A man jumped over the fence of the White House and made it through the front door before officers managed to apprehend him, just minutes after President Barack Obama had departed, the Secret Service said.
After scaling the fence on the north side of the White House at around 7:20pm local time, Omar J. Gonzalez, 42 of Copperas Cove, Texas, darted toward the presidential residence, ignoring commands from officers to stop, said Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan.
He was ultimately apprehended just inside the North Portico doors — the grand, columned entrance that looks out over Pennsylvania Avenue.
The White House was partially evacuated and put on lockdown after Gonzalez jumped the fence.
An amateur video showed him running at full sprint toward the White House, but he was arrested and charged with unlawful entry to the complex soon after.
Mr Gonzalez didn’t tell the arresting officers why he wanted to get into the building, the official said, speculating that the man may be “mentally disturbed.”
He was taken to George Washington Medical Center after complaining of chest pain during his arrest, according to a late-night statement from the Secret Service.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate