A Secret Service agent opened fire on Tuesday at the home of a high-ranking member of President Biden’s Cabinet, according to multiple reports.
The agent, who was part of the president’s protective detail, shot at the man’s home in the Bethesda, Maryland, area in the morning, according to NBC News.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are not yet clear, but there were no reports of anyone being injured.
The affected Cabinet member was not publicly identified, but sources said he was a senior-level official with a high profile.
The Secret Service quickly responded to the scene, and agents were seen going door-to-door in the neighborhood to gather information and interview witnesses.
The Biden administration was quick to distance itself from the incident, with a White House official saying that the president has been made aware of the situation and is being briefed on the details.
“It’s an ongoing investigation and we will provide more information as it becomes available,” the official said.
This is the second time this year that a Secret Service agent has been involved in a shooting. In January, an agent shot and wounded a man who was believed to be trying to get too close to the agent and his family at their home in Maryland.
This latest incident is likely to raise concerns about the agency’s ability to protect both the president and the first family, as well as the officials who work under them.
The Secret Service has faced criticism in recent years for its handling of high-profile incidents, including the shooting of a gun-wielding man who managed to breach the White House perimeter fence in 2019.
The agency’s director, James Murray, has promised to take a closer look at the incidents and implement changes to ensure the safety of those the agency is sworn to protect.