Shots fired near White House

WASHINGTON: Shots were reported fired Friday night between the White House and the Washington Monument, setting off a flurry of law enforcement activity, a US Park Police spokesman said.

The incident was reported shortly after 9 pm, according to Sgt. David Schlosser, spokesman for the Park Police. Responding officers found an abandoned vehicle in the vicinity of the reported incident and were searching it "trying to figure out what happened."

Schlosser noted that "no evidence" has been recovered to indicate shots were actually fired.

A Secret Service official who asked not to be identified reported that gunshots rang out as two cars sped on the National Mall. Agents stationed on 16th Street heard the shots, then saw the cars heading west on Constitution Avenue, the official said.

At least one witness saw that someone had "jumped out of the vehicle and ran," but no one was captured, the official said.

An AK-47-style rifle was recovered in or near the abandoned vehicle, the official said.

In a brief appearance before reporters, Schlosser said he was not aware of any gun having been found.