Texas Man Wounded After Firing at Secret Service Near White House
A 45-year-old Texas resident identified as Michael Marx opened fire on U.S. Secret Service agents near the White House on Monday afternoon, prompting agents to return fire and wound him multiple times, authorities said. A teenage bystander suffered a non-life-threatening graze wound during the exchange.
The incident unfolded around 3:30 p.m. near 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW on the National Mall, just blocks southeast of the White House and close to the Washington Monument. Secret Service surveillance personnel first spotted Marx displaying what appeared to be the outline of a firearm, according to Deputy Director Matthew Quinn. When uniformed officers approached, Marx fled on foot before turning to fire in the direction of the pursuing agents, officials said. The agents responded with gunfire, striking Marx several times in the back and leg. No officers were injured, and detectives recovered a handgun at the scene.
Marx was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries and remained under custody as of Tuesday. The teenager, believed to be a tourist, was struck by a bullet authorities attributed to Marx's gunfire and received treatment for a superficial wound.