Court documents unsealed today have disclosed that the man arrested after firing shots near the White House last week had at least two prior encounters with the Secret Service, raising questions about how the agency handled potential warning signs. The suspect, identified as 41-year-old Marcus Allen, was taken into custody on 11 March after allegedly discharging a handgun in Lafayette Square, causing a lockdown of the executive mansion.
According to affidavits filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court, Allen was interviewed by Secret Service agents on two separate occasions in 2022 and 2023. The first encounter occurred in May 2022, when agents stopped Allen for behaving erratically near the White House perimeter. He was found to be in possession of a pocketknife, which was confiscated, and he was released after a mental health evaluation. The second contact, in November 2023, involved a similar incident where Allen attempted to climb the fence surrounding the compound. He was again questioned and released without charges.
Despite these red flags, agents did not place Allen on any watchlist or escalate the matter to higher authorities. The documents suggest that each encounter was treated as an isolated incident, with no long-term assessment of the risk he might pose. "The pattern of behaviour indicates an escalating fixation on the White House," said Dr. James Mallory, a forensic psychologist consulted by the court. "The Secret Service should have flagged this individual as a potential threat after the second contact."
On the day of the shooting, Allen is alleged to have driven a rented sedan onto the sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue, brandishing a semiautomatic pistol. He fired four rounds into the air before being tackled by uniformed officers. No injuries were reported, but the incident prompted a full lockdown and is now under review by the Department of Homeland Security.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle has ordered an internal investigation into the agency's handling of the prior encounters. In a statement, she acknowledged the gravity of the situation: "We take each and every contact with the public seriously, and we are reviewing our protocols to ensure that we identify and address threats before they escalate."
The case has reignited debate about the Secret Service's ability to vet individuals who repeatedly approach the White House. Republican Senator Susan Collins criticised the agency's performance: "This is a systemic failure. Two warnings were ignored. It's only good fortune that this individual did not succeed in harming anyone."
Allen remains in federal custody, charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and assault on police officers. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week. The court documents also reveal that Allen had posted several threatening messages on social media regarding the President, though the timing and content of those posts have not been fully disclosed.
This report is based on court filings obtained by our journalists. The investigation is ongoing.
