Shots fired near White House, police probe begins

WASHINGTON: Shots were fired on Friday night between the White House and the Washington Monument, said reports. Police are probing the shoot out and have closed a stretch of Constitution Avenue near the White House. They have also recovered an AK-47 assault rifle. Sgt David Schlosser of the US Park Police said the White House did not appear to have been the focus of the incident. Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said witnesses heard shots and saw two vehicles racing on Constitution Avenue toward 17th Street. Witnesses saw the driver get out and run across the Roosevelt Bridge toward Arlington, Virginia, Donovan said. He said an AK-47 assault rifle was recovered but no one is in custody. Police were looking for bullet holes and had not confirmed that shots were actually fired.