Police were searching for a 21-year-old man Wednesday after a bullet struck a window at the White House and another round was found on the exterior of the executive mansion.
The Secret Service said the bullet that hit the window of the White House was stopped by special ballistic glass. The bullets were discovered Tuesday.
But the shots may have been fired about 9:30 p.m. Friday, when police received reports of gunshots in the vicinity of 16th Street and Constitution Avenue on the National Mall. Witnesses saw two vehicles speeding in the area, and law enforcement authorities recovered an AK-47 rifle.
The gunman allegedly fired shots from a car, then abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
U.S. Park Police have issued an arrest warrant for Oscar Ortega-Hernandez, 21, of Idaho, who is described as an Hispanic man, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds, with a medium build, brown eyes and black hair. The warrant accuses him of carrying a dangerous weapon, which is a felony. The suspect has a criminal record ranging from domestic violence to drug charges.
He was reportedly detained by police at an abandoned house prior to the shooting incident.
The Secret Service said it has not conclusively connected the incident on Friday with the bullets found on the White House grounds. President Obama was not in the White House Friday; he and first lady Michelle Obama were in San Diego on their way to a summit in Hawaii. Their daughters, Sasha and Malia, were not traveling with them but it was not immediately clear if they were at the White House at the time of the incident.
“We have not received any reports of any damage to any buildings or anything as a result of that firearm’s discharge,” Park Police Sgt. David Scholler said Monday at a news conference.
Park Police say Mr. Ortega-Hernandez may have spent time in Washington blending in with “Occupy D.C.” protesters.
The Secret Service, Park Police, FBI, and D.C. police are searching for Mr. Ortega, who is believed to still be in the Washington area.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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