Updated 2:48 p.m. | Capitol Police have placed a dignitary protection agent on administrative leave after a White House staffer allegedly fired the agent’s own gun at him in Maryland during a domestic dispute. The staffer has also been suspended.  

Prince George’s County police were called to the scene of the Aug. 7 shooting sometime after 2:30 a.m. They arrested Barvetta Singletary, who joined the White House’s legislative affairs team in June 2014 after nearly 15 years with Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, D-S.C. She faces first- and second-degree assault charges, plus one count of reckless endangerment. Singletary allegedly sent the agent, her boyfriend, a text inviting him to her Upper Marlboro home for sex, where the two got into a fight about another woman he was dating, according to NBC4. Court documents state Singletary reached into the agent’s bag and retrieved two cellphones and his .40 caliber Glock 23 service weapon. The dispute continued and Singletary allegedly fired one round.  

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2. in Maryland District Court.  

Singletary has been placed on unpaid leave from her job pending more information, according to the White House. Her access to the complex has been revoked. “We will take additional action as needed,” a White House spokesperson said in an email to CQ Roll Call, referring further questions to Prince George’s County police.  

Capitol Police are probing the circumstances of the incident, in which its employee appears to have been the victim of domestic violence.  

“We are investigating the matter mindful on the underlying criminal investigation. Department employees are held to a high standard of conduct and the matter will receive a thorough review consistent with our policies and procedures,” Capt. Kimberly Schneider said in a Monday statement to CQ Roll Call.  

The specialized unit, assigned to security details for members of Congress, faced scrutiny over weapons handling this spring, after revelations that unattended guns had been left in problematic places around the Capitol.  

Chief Kim C. Dine told a House committee that the department provides lockboxes to officers to secure their weapons. “Those are generally kept in their homes,” Dine said.  

Correction: August 11, 4:53 p.m. A previous version of this article misstated the time the alleged incident occurred.

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