Secret Service: Man Fatally Shoots Himself Near White House
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork) -- A man died Saturday after authorities say he shot himself in the head near the White House.
The Secret Service says the man approached the North White House fence and brandished a handgun, firing several rounds before fatally shooting himself around 11:46am.
Investigators don't believe any of the rounds the man fired were aimed towards the White House.
The incident increased security at the White House, and reporters were temporarily sent down to the basement.
BREAKING: Secret Service personnel are responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gun shot wound along the north fence line of @WhiteHouse.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018
Police in Washington confirm the man succumbed to his injuries. His identity was being withheld as authorities searched for next of kin.
No other injuries were reported as pedestrian and vehicular traffic near the White House was impacted due to the incident, according to the Secret Service.
Final Update: Secret Service can confirm that no member of the First Family was at the @WhiteHouse during today's incident outside the fence line.
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) March 3, 2018
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania were in Florida when the incident occurred, but has since returned to Washington.
It is unclear if the incident was politically connected in nature, although CBS News security analyst Ron Hosko said that will be one thing law enforcement would look into as they investigate.
"You can get pretty darn close to the White House with a weapon," Hosko said, describing how security is tight around the White House, but people are allowed to get relatively close to the perimeter.
The security scare came a little more than a week after a 35-year-old driver was arrested after allegedly hitting a security barrier near the White House.