Man Reportedly Dies by Suicide in Front of White House

On Saturday, the U.S. Secret Service reported that a man, who has yet to be publicly identified, died in front of the White House fence on Pennsylvania Avenue from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. No one else was injured — but the White House is currently on lockdown.

According to White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley, President Trump is currently in Palm Beach, Florida, but has been briefed on the incident, CBS News reported.

The story is still developing — so there’s a lot we don’t know. Many media sites are reporting the man’s death was a suicide, but investigations are still underway. Out of the 169,395 firearm deaths that occurred in the U.S. from 2011 to 2015 — 62 percent were suicides.

As the story unfolds, we want everyone affected by suicide loss, suicidal thoughts or who has a history of suicide attempts to know that there are resources for people who are suicidal. While the current political climate has been hard on many — with the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida, talk of gun control and mental illness, and rhetoric that might make some feel unwelcome — there are still ways to get support and even more ways to advocate.

If this news is hard for you, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.

If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.

If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.

Getty image via Bill Chizek