An active-duty Army soldier struck by gunfire during a May shooting outside the White House filed a $25 million lawsuit against the Secret Service, claiming agents failed to protect bystanders during their response to an armed attacker.
Tourist Visit Turns Violent
Private First Class Benjamin Del Real Jr., 25, was visiting Washington with his sister and father on May 23 when a gunman opened fire near a Secret Service outpost around 6 p.m. The family had spent the day touring national landmarks before walking past the White House on their way to dinner. Del Real spotted the shooter roughly 20 yards from the Secret Service booth and pulled his father to safety behind a concrete barrier as agents returned fire, killing the attacker.
A bullet struck Del Real in the stomach during the exchange, causing life-threatening injuries that required immediate emergency surgery. Medical teams removed portions of his colon and small intestine during the first operation. He underwent a second surgery two days later to extract the bullet and faces a third procedure next month. The Salina, Kansas native, who joined the Army 18 months ago, expressed serious doubts about continuing his military career due to the permanent damage.
Questions About Accountability
Del Real filed his personal injury claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act on Tuesday, accusing the Secret Service of negligent response procedures that endangered innocent civilians. His attorney, Joseph Murphy, argued that agents unleashed excessive gunfire without adequate regard for public safety. The Secret Service has not confirmed whether its agents fired the bullet that hit Del Real. Metropolitan Police Department continues investigating the ballistics evidence, with spokesman Lee Lepe stating the inquiry remains ongoing months after the incident.
Federal law enforcement agencies typically enjoy legal immunity, but exceptions exist for employee negligence claims. Secret Service spokesperson Nate Herring declined to address the pending litigation, referring inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which has not commented.
Family Describes Trauma
Del Real’s sister, Sara, described watching her brother bleed as the most terrifying moment of her life. She testified that all three family members feared for their lives during the shooting. Murphy emphasized that Del Real, despite sustaining critical injuries himself, prioritized protecting his father during the attack and likely saved his life by dragging him behind cover. The attorney noted that Del Real’s digestive system damage represents permanent harm that will affect the 25-year-old for the remainder of his life, with no possibility of full recovery from the extensive organ removal.
