White House locked down and reporters forced to dive for cover as gunfire erupts
The White House was placed on lockdown after 20 to 30 rounds of gunfire erupted on Saturday evening.
Journalists reporting in DC tried to hide after hearing the gunshots.
Network employees said they were directed to secure locations inside the White House as the situation unfolded, while NBC sought comment from the U.S. Secret Service.
Television footage from the scene showed heavily armed Secret Service personnel carrying rifles on the North Lawn of the White House.
“I was recording on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the gunshots,” ABC White House Correspondent Selena Wang tweeted.
‘Dozens of gunshots were heard. “We were told to run to the press briefing room where we are currently holding,” he added.
President Donald Trump was unusually at the White House for a weekend instead of his home in Florida.
The press pool had also dispersed about an hour before the shots were heard, so only a few reporters remained in the White House.
In the minutes following the shooting, CNN reported that the gunshots came from the 17th Street side of the White House, close to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
This is a breaking story – continued below…
An armed Secret Service agent reacts at the White House in Washington, D.C., after gunshots were heard Saturday evening
A member of the US Secret Service watches as he holds his gun after gunshots are heard near the White House in Washington, D.C.
A Secret Service agent walks holding his gun after gunshots are heard near the White House
Reporters near the White House said they heard dozens of gunshots Saturday evening
