The man shot by Secret Service agents on the National Mall has been identified and federally charged after an exchange that unfolded near the Vice President’s motorcade path. Federal prosecutors say the suspect carried a firearm into central Washington, fired at officers near a crowded intersection, and wounded an innocent bystander. Authorities have laid out specific federal statutes they intend to rely on and described the sequence of events that led to officers returning fire. The case now moves through the federal system, with further proceedings expected in the coming days.
Officials named the suspect as 45-year-old Michael Marx of Texas and announced three federal felony charges in the District of Columbia. Those charges include assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Each charge carries significant potential penalties, reflecting how seriously prosecutors are treating an attack that unfolded near the seat of government. Prosecutors said they will pursue the “most serious charges available” in this matter.
According to the complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the incident occurred in the midafternoon as a plainclothes Secret Service agent spotted someone concealing a firearm. Uniformed officers then responded and located Marx along the route that the Vice President’s motorcade was taking. As officers moved in, Marx allegedly attempted to escape and then drew a handgun while running through a crosswalk where civilians were present. The complaint lays out the alleged timeline and the officers’ responses in clear, operational detail.
Prosecutors say Marx fired at a pursuing officer after reaching the sidewalk, and a civilian who was behind that officer was struck in the leg. Officers returned fire and struck Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen; Marx was transported to a hospital for treatment of injuries described as non-life-threatening. The authorities emphasize that the shooting took place near a busy intersection, increasing the risk to bystanders and prompting an immediate and forceful law enforcement response. Officials have highlighted that Marx was in close proximity to the Vice President’s route at the time of the encounter.
We will prove this defendant carried an illegal firearm into the heart of Washington, D.C., opened fire at Secret Service officers near a crowded intersection, and shot an innocent bystander who was simply crossing the street with his family. My office will pursue the most serious charges available against anyone who brings gun violence to our streets, particularly when that violence unfolds steps from the seat of our government and the path of the Vice President of the United States.
The affidavit supporting the complaint provides additional context, noting specific observations by agents and the sequence of warnings and pursuit. It records that the plainclothes agent first observed the suspect appearing to hide a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW shortly before the motorcade passed. The document also describes how officers issued verbal commands and then pursued when Marx fled, culminating in the alleged shooting and the officers’ return fire. Those court papers will be key evidence when prosecutors present the case to a grand jury for potential indictment.
According to court papers, on May 4, 2026, about 3:40 p.m., a plainclothes U.S. Secret Service agent observed a man, later identified as Marx, appearing to conceal a firearm on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW. The agent alerted the Secret Service Joint Operations Center and requested uniformed backup.
At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was departing the White House, passing through the area of 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
Uniformed Secret Service officers responded and located Marx along the path of the Vice President’s motorcade. As officers approached, Marx walked toward a group of civilians crossing the street.
Officers issued verbal commands. Marx fled east on Independence Avenue SW. As officers pursued him, Marx drew a firearm from his waistband while running through the crosswalk toward bystanders.
When Marx reached the sidewalk, he turned and fired at one of the pursuing officers. A civilian witness standing behind the officer was wounded in his leg. Officers returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper abdomen.
On the way to the hospital, authorities quoted Marx as saying “F— the White House” and “Kill me, kill me, kill me,” remarks prosecutors noted when asked about possible motive. Investigators have not publicly tied the incident to a specific political objective, but they are treating the statements and circumstances as part of the overall investigation. The timing of this shooting came days after a separate attempted attack connected to a high-profile event, drawing attention to security challenges in and around Washington.
Magistrate proceedings for Marx began with his case assigned to a judge who recently handled a different federal shooting case, and prosecutors plan to present the matter to a grand jury for possible indictment. The charges Marx faces carry statutory maximums that include long prison terms and, in one count, potential life sentence exposure depending on how the convictions and enhancements are applied. Officials also highlighted that the civilian shot in this incident is a teenager who is expected to recover, underscoring both the physical and emotional toll of the episode.
Local and federal agencies remain involved as investigators continue to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and review surveillance and body-worn camera footage. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Secret Service both emphasized that cases involving threats near federal officials and high-profile routes will be prosecuted vigorously. As the case progresses, the complaint and affidavit will serve as the public record of the facts prosecutors intend to prove in court.
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