U.S. President Donald Trump was abruptly evacuated from the White House briefing room by a Secret Service agent on Monday after shots were fired outside the building.
In a video released on social media, Trump was seen praising a rise in the stock market when a staff walked up to him and ushered him out of the briefing room.
Sound of gunshots could be heard as the President walked out of the room.
According to several sources including BBC News, the shooting incident took place near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just a few distance away from the White House.
Watch the video below:
US President Donald Trump leaves news conference after reports of shooting outside White House https://t.co/VKj77JRawI pic.twitter.com/NLVB70nr2w
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 10, 2020
After some minutes later, Trump returned to the house and confirmed that someone believed to be an armed suspect was shot in the process.
He told reporters:
“It was a shooting outside of the White House. It seems to be very well under control…
“But there was an actual shooting, and somebody has been taken to the hospital. I don’t know the condition of the person.”
“I’d like to thank the Secret Service for doing their always quick and very effective work”
Meanwhile, the suspect was transferred to a local hospital on account of serious or possibly critical injuries.
Authorities will also carry out further investigations on him to ascertain whether the individual has a history of mental illness.