Security men shoot youth for brandishing gun near White House

Washington: United States (US) law enforcement officers on Friday shot a youth who brandished a handgun at a security checkpoint near the White House, confirmed witnesses.

The Secret Service, which looks after the President’s security, locked down the White House for a while as precaution. Vice President Joe Bidden was secured within the White House premises during the lock-down.

“The man, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, walked towards the White House gate with a silver-couloured gun in his hand pointed at the ground. Few of the officers drew their guns and a gunshot was shortly heard” said a visitor from Texas who witnessed the entire incident.

Highlights:

• The man was shot in the abdomen by the Secret Service personnel.
• Later, he was rushed to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.
• President Obama was golfing at executive mansion near the White House building at the time of incident.
• The Secret Service confirmed the shooting near the White House complex on their Twitter handle.

The Secret Service is confirming a police involved shooting near the @WhiteHouse complex. All Secret Service protectees are safe.

— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 20, 2016