Bullet Hits White House Window

Round of ammunition stopped by ballistic glass

The Secret Service is investigating how a bullet hit an exterior window of the White House.  A round was stopped by ballistic glass behind the building's historic exterior glass.  

The Secret Service also tells News4 that one additional round was also found on the exterior of the White House.  Both rounds were discovered Tuesday morning.

The investigation started after an incident on November 11, when gunshots were heard near the White House.  The Secret Service has not yet conclusively connected Friday's incident with the bullets found on White House grounds.  On Wednesday morning, ballistic testing had not yet been completed.

The Secret Service, Park Police, D.C. police and Arlington police all responded to the reported shooting at 9:30 p.m. on Friday night. Investigators found an assault rifle in a car abandoned near the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. It was not an AK-47, as suggested in previous reports, and the owner of the gun is unknown at this time.

Evidence from the car linked it to 21-year-old Oscar Ortega.

Park Police told News4's Elaine Reyes they believe Ortega came to the D.C. area several weeks ago. His family reported him missing from Idaho Falls, Idaho on October 31.  Ortega has had legal issues in Texas, Utah and Idaho involving drugs, alcohol and assault.

Ortega was stopped by police in Arlington for a field inquiry that Friday, but was released.  Jackie Bensen reported police questioned and photographed the man, but did not have enough evidence to keep him in custody.

A warrant for Ortega's arrest was issued Friday night.  Law enforcement has searched for Ortega in the Occupy DC camp at McPherson Square and throughout the region.

Ortega is described as a Hispanic man with brown eyes, black hair and medium build, standing 5-foot-11 and weighing about 160 pounds. He has several dots tattooed on his right hand, “Israel” tattooed on the left side of his neck and several tattoos on his chest and back, including his surname “Ortega,” hands clasped in prayer and rosary beads.

State Police captured Oscar Ortega in Indiana, Pennsylvania on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.  Secret Service assisted in the capture.

Follow NBC Washington to get the latest news, events and entertainment anytime, anywhere: on air, online, and on Facebook // Twitter.

Contact Us