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Omar J. Gonzales, the 42-year-old man who the Secret Service says ran onto the White House grounds and entered a door Friday night, is an Army veteran who served in Iraq and was reportedly a sniper.


As we reported yesterday, Gonzales is accused of 

 of the presidential residence and opening a door at the North Portico just before 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Obama family was not at home at the time, and initial reports were that the intruder was unarmed — but court documents filed yesterday say he was carrying a small folding knife.
"Authorities have identified the intruder from Friday night's shocking incident as Omar J. Gonzalez, 42, of Copperas Cove, Texas," 

 reports, "and the Army said he had served from 1997 to 2003, when he was discharged, and then again from 2005 to December 2012, when he retired."
Gonzalez has been suffering from depression and had been taking medication, according to a family member contacted by 

. The relative says Gonzalez has had a hard time since he was injured by an IED while he was deployed to Iraq.
From the 

 spoke to Gonzalez's former stepson, who said the veteran is a trained sniper who is "a very good guy. He is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder."  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Crime, Law and Justice

The 42-year-old man who the Secret Service says entered the White House Friday night, is an Army veteran who served in Iraq and was reportedly a sniper.

Secret Service officers at the White House

Man caught entering White House with knife is an Army veteran

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