Gunfire Incident Near White House: Police Have Arrest Warrant For Oscar Ramiro Ortega (UPDATED)

Arrest Warrant For Man Believed Linked To Incident Near White House

WASHINGTON -- Police in the nation's capital have an arrest warrant for a 21-year-old man they believe was involved in Friday night's incident on Constitution Avenue NW near the White House where reports of gunfire prompted a police investigation that closed many streets.

Late Saturday night, U.S. Park Police released information about Oscar Ramiro Ortega, who has no address. According to a Sunday report from The Associated Press, Ortega is being charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, a felony.

In interviews with local media Saturday night, U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser would not detail the nature of the connection between Ortega and Friday's incident but indicated that evidence recovered in an abandoned vehicle linked Ortega to the Friday's incident, according to The Washington Post.

Ortega, who is believed to be 5'8" tall and weighs 160 pounds, has multiple tattoos which may help identify him, including one on the left side of his neck that says "Israel." Police, according to the AP, believe Ortega is still in the D.C. area but also apparently has connections in Idaho.

Saturday night, Schlosser updated information about the incident, which started on Constitution Avenue near the Ellipse and ended at 23rd Street NW, near the approach to the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. According to early information about the incident from Friday, two suspected vehicles raced westbound from the area gunfire was reported. But Schlosser said Saturday night that only one car -- the one that was abandoned at 23rd Street NW and Constitution Avenue -- was believed to be involved in the incident.

Witnesses reported the driver of that vehicle jumped out of the car and ran across the Roosevelt Bridge into Virginia. A rifle was recovered from that vehicle.

Schlosser, however, in an interview with WRC-TV/NBC4's Darcy Spencer on Saturday night said the weapon was not an AK-47 assault rifle. The Secret Service on Friday said an AK-47 was recovered from the vehicle.

It is not believed that the White House, which sits about five blocks north of Constitution Avenue, was targeted.

This post has been updated to reflect updated information about a warrant for the arrest of Oscar Ramiro Oretega

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