An intruder has been shot dead after Secret Service members were called to reports of a burglary at the Peruvian ambassador's house this morning outside the embassy in the US.
Robert Contee, the Chief of Washington DC police, confirmed during a news conference that the intruder was shot dead as the ambassador and his wife slept inside the home - which is five miles away from the White House.
He told reporters that officers responded to calls of a burglary in progress at the Peruvian ambassador's house just before 8am local time.
When they arrived they found multiple windows smashed and the intruder, who they say is a man believed to be in his late 20s and early 30s, was armed with a metal stake.
Officers shot him with a Taser, which Chief Contee said did not work to subdue him.
Officers then fired their guns and the intruder was declared dead at the scene.
Two Secret Service personnel were also shot and have been taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Chief Contee said.
Chief Contee said it is unclear who this man is and he was not known to police at this time.
He added it was too early to tell what the man's possible motive was.
Officials with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department and Secret Service are conducting a joint investigation.
Multiple emergency vehicles were seen racing down the road following reports of gunfire at about 8.10am local time.
It is not clear how many shots were fired.
A statement from the embassy on Twitter read: "The Embassy of Peru regrets to report that today, early in the morning, a person entered the Official Residence without authorization, causing material damage to the property.
"Said person was shot by the Secret Service.
"The Ambassador, his family, the Residential staff, and the secret service agents are safe, and the fact is being investigated by the competent authorities."
