Soldier Injured in White House Shootout Sues Secret Service

Lawyers for Benjamin Del Real, a 25-year-old active-duty US Army soldier, announced they will file a personal injury lawsuit against the US Secret Service on Tuesday.

Del Real was on vacation with his father and sister in Washington, DC, on 23 May when an armed man opened fire at a White House security checkpoint. Secret Service agents fatally shot the attacker. According to the planned lawsuit, agents fired numerous rounds across a busy intersection toward innocent bystanders and one of those bullets struck Del Real in the abdomen, requiring life-saving surgery. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether he was struck by Secret Service gunfire or by the attacker.

The Secret Service confirmed at the time that a bystander had been injured during the exchange of gunfire but did not disclose the severity of the injuries.

Attorney Joseph Murphy said that while Secret Service agents have a duty to protect the president and other dignitaries, they must also take reasonable precautions to protect members of the public. He said Del Real and his family, who were unarmed, received no warning before the shooting.

The notice of claim also seeks the preservation of all relevant evidence, including firearms, shell casings and surveillance footage, ahead of the planned lawsuit.

(Reuters, Max)