Pfc. Benjamin Del Real Jr., a 25-year-old active-duty soldier, has filed a $25 million lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service after being struck by a stray bullet during a shooting outside the White House in May. Del Real, who was visiting Washington, D.C., with his family, suffered life-threatening injuries when a gunman opened fire near Secret Service agents, prompting an exchange of gunfire. The bullet that hit Del Real remains under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department, with ballistics reports still pending to determine if it was fired by Secret Service agents.
Del Real’s attorney, Joseph Murphy, alleges that Secret Service agents were negligent in their response, failing to adequately protect bystanders. Murphy claims the agents fell short of their training in neutralizing the threat without injuring civilians. Del Real underwent two surgeries to remove the bullet and parts of his digestive system, with a third surgery scheduled. The gunman, 21-year-old Nasire Best, was killed in the exchange.
The Secret Service has not commented on the pending litigation, referring questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being pursued under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows individuals to sue the federal government for personal injury. Del Real, who enlisted in the Army just 18 months ago, expressed concerns about the future of his military career due to his injuries.