Person of Interest Wanted in Reported Shooting Near White House

Investigators release picture of wanted man in reported shooting

U.S. Park Police are looking for a man believed to be involved in reports of shots fired near the White House.

Police have obtained an arrest warrant for Oscar Ramiro Ortega, 21. Police said they will charge him with “carrying a dangerous weapon.”

Ortega is believed to remain in the D.C. area and he has ties to Idaho.

Witnesses reported shots fired at Constitution Avenue and 16 Street in northwest Washington at about 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Secret Service, U.S. Park Police, D.C. Police, and Arlington Police all responded. Authorities found a car matching the description of the one involved abandoned near the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.

Investigators said evidence found inside included a rifle and traced it back to Ortega. Early witness reports suggested that the weapon was an AK-47. U.S. Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser said that is no longer the case and the weapon was a semi-automatic weapon.

Investigators say Ortega has several distinctive tattoos to help identify him, including several dots on his right hand. He also has the word "Israel" tattooed on the left side of his neck. U.S. Park Police say he also has several other tattoos on his chest and back including the name "Ortega," hands clasped in prayer and rosary beads.

At this point, detectives cannot confirm if shots were actually fired. If indeed there were, investigators say the incident was not politically motivated and it does not appear the White House was a direct target.

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