A White House staffer was charged with assault and reckless endangerment after allegedly firing a gun at her Capitol Police boyfriend with his own weapon early Friday morning, according to Prince George's County Police.
WRC-TV reported that Barvetta Singletary, a White House special assistant to the president and House legislative affairs liaison, got into an argument with her boyfriend about him dating other women. When he refused to show her his cellphones in his car outside her home, Singletary allegedly reached into his bag and took the phones as well as his .40-caliber Glock 23 service weapon. She then went back inside her home, demanding his phone passwords.
“We are aware of the matter and have temporarily placed the employee in question on unpaid leave and revoked her access to the complex until we have more information," a White House spokesperson told TheBlaze Monday. "We will take additional actions as needed."
Prince George's County Police spokesman Michael Owen told TheBlaze that Singletary was charged with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. She is no longer being held. Owen did not know when she will be appearing in court.
AP Photo/Susan Walsh
According to the arrest warrant obtained by WRC, when he still refused to give the passwords up, Singletary threatened, "You taught me how to use this. Don't think I won't use it," and allegedly fired one round in the victim's direction. He fled and called 911.
Singletary, 37, has served in the White House since 2014, previously working as deputy chief of staff and policy director to Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
President Barack Obama left Washington on Friday, the day of the incident, for his vacation on Martha's Vineyard.
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment from TheBlaze.
This post was updated to include information from Prince George's County Police and a comment from a White House spokesperson.
