Another deputy then opened fire, striking and killing Smith, who was 34. At least one person has been hospitalized.

The Chester County District Justice Center was evacuated around noon Tuesday following a shooting inside the building, located in West Chester.

Chester County Detectives, who are in charge of criminal investigations in the courthouse, had taken control of the lobby, which was dotted with deputies and West Chester Police.

The courthouse, which was evacuated after gunshots rang out, was closed for the rest of the day. Law enforcement responded to make sure that all of the citizens, judges, and court staff were safe.

Smith had achieved notoriety when he breached White House security by climbing over a stone wall of the presidential mansion on March 1 this year. “Today, that training paid off”. “This was a model response to a violent incident”.

Smith was a well-loved boxer and martial artist with two boys and a wife, Walton said. The White House incident was likely a prior attempt, she said.

Hogan confirmed Smith’s White Home arrest in a press release late Tuesday afternoon.

A man who broke into the White House grounds has been shot dead by police at a Pennsylvania courthouse after allegedly knifing an officer. The arrest record said he wanted “to pass a message to the president”, the Washington Post reported.

However, he avoided conviction and struck a deal outside of court after being charged with unlawful entry.

When officers approached the man, the affidavit says he “turned around presenting his hands behind his back for arrest”.