Man Shot by Secret Service After Armed Standoff Near White House

A tense confrontation near the White House ended in gunfire when Secret Service agents shot a man who had reportedly traveled from Indiana to Washington, D.C. The man, identified as 27-year-old Andrew Dawson, was armed with both a knife and a gun when he encountered law enforcement just after midnight on March 9. Here’s everything we know so far about this alarming incident.

A Late-Night Confrontation

The encounter unfolded near the intersection of 17th Street and F Street, close to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building - just a block from the West Wing of the White House. Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that officers had been alerted about a “suicidal individual” who had been flagged by local Indiana police, as reported by PEOPLE. Law enforcement put out a “BOLO” (Be On the Look Out) notice for Dawson, who was believed to be traveling to D.C.

When officers found Dawson’s parked vehicle, they spotted him nearby on foot. As they approached, Dawson pulled out a firearm, triggering what the Secret Service described as an “armed confrontation,” according to PEOPLE. Shots were fired, and Dawson was hit before being transported to a local hospital in an unknown condition.

Who Is Andrew Dawson?

Andrew Dawson, a resident of North Manchester, Indiana, had minimal criminal history - his only known arrest was in 2018 for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. However, according to MSN, reports suggest that authorities believed Dawson was attempting “suicide by cop.” His concerning behavior led to an alert from Indiana law enforcement, which ultimately resulted in the Secret Service tracking him down near the White House.

While he was armed with both a knife and a gun, no Secret Service personnel were injured during the confrontation.

The Investigation Underway

The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division is now leading the investigation, as is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in Washington, D.C. Officials did not immediately release further details regarding Dawson’s motivations or how he obtained his weapons.

One key detail: President Donald Trump was not in the White House during the incident. He was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, meaning there was no direct threat to the sitting president at the time.

What’s Next?

This is still a developing story, and authorities are working to piece together Dawson’s actions leading up to the shooting. Questions remain: Why did Dawson come to D.C.? Was he acting alone? And what could have been done to prevent this? For now, officials continue to gather evidence and monitor Dawson’s condition.

This investigation is ongoing.

References: ‘Armed’ Man Shot by the Secret Service During Confrontation Near the White House in Washington, D.C. | Secret Service says it shot an armed man near the White House after a confrontation | Who Is Andrew Dawson? Indiana Man Shot By Secret Service Agent Near White House