DRAMATIC scenes have unfolded at the White House today after a US Secret Service agent reported that shots had been fired.

The precinct, home to US President Donald Trump, was put in lockdown after reports of gunshots, with the Secret Service confirming on Twitter they were responding to reports of a person who allegedly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound along the north fence of the White House.

According to The Sun, medical personnel went to the scene and responded to the male victim.
Pedestrian and vehicular traffic around the White House was impacted due to the incident.

Authorities have since announced that a man shot himself to death outside the White House.

The District of Columbia Police Department said in a tweet that an “adult male has been declared deceased. We are working to notify next of kin.”

That tweet came about two hours after the Secret Service first released information that it was responding to reports of a self-inflicted shooting along the White House’s north fence.

President Trump and his wife Melania are not currently at the White House, instead staying in Florida at the Mar-a-Lago resort.

According to US media, Trump has been briefed on the incident and is set to return later today.

Correspondents who were in the White House at the time were put on lockdown in the press briefing room following the incident.

The Secret Service said there were no other reported injuries.