The Hill News

Police are investigating gunshots heard near the White House on Friday night, according to multiple reports, but the incident appears unrelated to President Obama, who was not in Washington at the time.

An AK-47 assault rifle was recovered from a car near the Roosevelt Bridge shortly after police started pursuing two vehicles fleeing from a section of Constitution Avenue near 16th street, where the shots were heard.

Witnesses saw the driver of the vehicle where the gun was found run across the bridge toward Virginia, according to the AP.

U.S. Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser said authorities were searching for evidence that shots had been fired, and that the White House did not appear to have been connected to the incident, NBC Washington reported.

Metropolitan Police said the Secret Service is taking the lead on the investigation. A Secret Service spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.