David Mahonski

David Allen Mahonski (May 27, 1958 – November 28, 1992) was an electrician from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, who was shot by a White House guard on March 15, 1984. The 25-year-old had been under FBI surveillance for making threats against then-president Ronald Reagan. He had been warned to stay away from the White House by United States Secret Service officers in the months leading up to the shooting.

Background Mahonski lived in Williamsport throughout most of his life. Just a few years before the shooting, Mahonski had been released from prison following a March 1979 shooting when he drew a 16-gauge shotgun in front of a Secret Service officer outside the Executive Mansion before being shot by the officer seconds later. He was released from prison in January 1980 before becoming a maintenance mechanic at Stroehmann Bakery in Williamsport for several years until March 1983.

Shooting Mahonski, who was recovering from his injuries, was noticed in front of the south grounds of the White House by security agents who then approached him. He pulled a sawed-off shotgun from beneath his coat, and one of the agents shot him in the arm with a revolver. He was subsequently arrested.

He was arraigned on March 16, and scheduled for a psychiatric evaluation which later detected 'emotional problems.'