A man approached Secret Service near the Washington Monument, pulled a gun as the Vice President’s motorcade passed, and federal officers returned fire; a bystander was wounded and the suspect was taken to a hospital.
Authorities temporarily locked down parts of the White House area after a shooting near the Washington Monument that sent law enforcement into action. A plainclothes Secret Service agent noticed a man “printing,” which triggered a response and backup from uniformed officers. When the encounter escalated and shots were fired, federal officers returned fire and one civilian was struck.
The suspect was identified as Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, and witnesses say he reportedly yelled “fuck the White House” when Secret Service approached. The incident happened as the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance had just passed through that section of the city, placing the event dangerously close to a presidential route. Law enforcement quickly moved to secure the scene and render aid where it was needed.
Marx faces three federal charges: assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court papers, on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup.
At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President’s motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street.
Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders.
When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen.
Marx collapsed at the intersection of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW, where officers rendered aid. He was identified through a Texas driver’s license found on his person. Law enforcement also identified aliases including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici. Marx was transported to George Washington University Hospital. While in the ambulance, he allegedly made statements to officers including “F— the White House” and “Kill me, kill me, kill me.”
Investigators recovered a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the area where Marx fell. Law enforcement confirmed Marx does not hold a license to carry a handgun in the District of Columbia.
That weapon description and the absence of a District carry license highlight how quickly a moment can turn lethal in the heart of the capital. Federal prosecutors have moved fast, bringing multiple charges that reflect both the assault on officers and the reckless endangerment of civilians. The scene at 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW was chaotic, and bystanders were put at real risk when the suspect fired while running through a crowded crosswalk.
Medical teams treated the wounded civilian and Marx was taken to George Washington University Hospital for care. Officers on the ground provided immediate first aid and secured the firearm recovered at the location where Marx fell. Investigators are sorting out identity details and aliases found on the suspect while the criminal process moves forward.
We will prove this defendant carried an illegal firearm into the heart of Washington, D.C., opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family. My office will pursue the most serious charges available against anyone who brings gun violence to our streets, particularly when that violence unfolds steps from the seat of our government and the path of the Vice President of the United States.
President Trump was inside the White House for a small business leaders’ summit at the time of the incident. The quick response by Secret Service and other federal agents prevented what could easily have been a much worse tragedy given the proximity to government officials and heavy pedestrian traffic. From a law and order perspective, the episode reinforces why strong, well-resourced protective services matter and why those officers deserve support when they face sudden, violent threats.
