Secret Service agent who was shot by gunman may have been hit by ‘friendly fire’: report

The agent himself was hit in the chest and survived thanks to the ballistic vest he was wearing.

“This heroic officer who was hit fired five times at Allen, who was not shot but fell to the ground and was promptly arrested,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “The defendant fired out of his shotgun – we know that happened. But as far as getting into exacting ballistics, I’m not going to do that today,” Blanche told reporters.

Now, a shocking claim suggests the Secret Surface agent might have been caught in the crossfire. Sky News reported Tuesday that he may have been shot by another agent in friendly fire.

The shocking claim of possible friendly fire sparked speculation online, not least after footage from the scene appeared to show several Secret Service agents aiming their weapons at Allen from different directions. Backing Blanche’s statement, a new federal review suggests friendly fire was not the case.

According to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, witness statements and agent accounts are consistent with the suspected gunman being the one who shot the Secret Service officer, USA Today reported.

Secret Service rules out friendly fire as officers’ guns are checked

Moreover, investigators say the injured agent was the only Secret Service officer who fired his gun. Weapons belonging to the other agents at the scene have been checked, and it was established that they hadn’t been used.

The unnamed source added that Secret Service officials have largely ruled out friendly fire as the cause of the agent’s injuries, although an FBI ballistics and forensic investigation is still ongoing.

“We want to get that right, so we’re still looking at that,” Blanche said on Monday when asked whose bullet struck the agent, continuing by describing the terrifying moment Allen allegedly breached security.

“Allen ran through the magnetometer, holding a long gun. As he did so, U.S. Secret Service personnel assigned to the checkpoint heard a loud gunshot. One Secret Service officer was shot in the chest, but was wearing a ballistic vest that worked,” Blanche said.

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