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Gunfire reported near White House prompts Secret Service response
Shots were heard close to Washington DC's Lafayette Park shortly after midnight on Sunday, triggering a security sweep by the US Secret Service.
Incident details
Officers arrived at the scene around 04:00 GMT (just past midnight local time) following reports of gunfire. A thorough search of Lafayette Park-located directly north of the White House-and the surrounding streets was conducted, the agency stated.
No suspect was found, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are now searching for a potential vehicle and individual linked to the incident.
Security measures and White House operations
President Donald Trump was in Washington DC over the weekend. The Secret Service confirmed that White House operations continue as usual but noted that an elevated security posture remains in effect.
Some nearby roads were temporarily closed during the investigation but have since reopened, according to Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi in a post on X.
Ongoing investigation
A Secret Service representative told the BBC on Sunday evening that the probe is still active. The agency has not released further details about the nature of the gunfire or the search for the person of interest.
President's weekend schedule
Trump opted to stay in the capital this weekend instead of traveling to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, where he typically spends weekends. White House communications director Steven Cheung said in an X post on Saturday that the president has been working continuously in the White House and Oval Office throughout the Easter holiday.
According to CBS News, Trump is scheduled to host a family Easter dinner at the White House on Sunday. The White House did not respond to requests for comment from the BBC.
