- Title: White House on lockdown after shooting nearby, Obama off site
- Date: 20th May 2016
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 20, 2016) (REUTERS) MOTORCADE LEAVING WHITE HOUSE COMPOUND
- Embargoed: 4th June 2016 22:00
- Keywords: white house shooting gunman lockdown
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNTIED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNTIED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA0014IM72VB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Law enforcement officers shot a man who brandished a gun near the White House on Friday (May 20) while President Barack Obama was out golfing. The man was taken to hospital in critical condition, officials and witnesses said.
The Secret Service, which protects the president, briefly locked down the White House as a precaution, and Vice President Joe Biden was secured within the White House complex during the lockdown, a White House spokeswoman said.
The shooting took place just off of 17th and E streets, near what is known as the South Lawn outside the executive mansion, which serves as the home and office of the president.
A man who looked to be in his mid-20s walked to the gate of the White House holding a silver-colored gun pointed at the ground, said Taylor Cates, a tourist from Texas.
"I look over to my right and and there's a man walking toward us so I grab my boyfriend's hand and I said 'do you see that gun right there?' And so he had a gun out just in plain sight and it wasn't even hidden or anything," Cates said.
She added: "We see him walking up to the gate and at that same time we saw the police officers come in and shoot him down."
U.S. Park Police said the shooting was on West Executive Drive, about a block from the White House.
The Secret Service confirmed a police involved shooting near the White House complex, reporting on Twitter that all the people under its protection were safe. The Secret Service, that also protects the president's family and other top dignitaries, did not say if Obama's wife and daughters were home at the time. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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