According to
this article the Secret Service was unaware of an armed man an elevator with the president. They didn't even know he was armed until the president left. He also has a record for assault thrice i believe. In my opinion the guy didn't pose any real danger. He was a security contractor which make me think he was just a guy doing his job and got in the elevator at the wrong time. The article spouts about how much danger the president was in being near a man with a gun and a criminal record but the guy didn't shoot and gave up the gun of his own free will once he saw the error of the situation. my favorite quote is thus:
The private contractor first aroused the agents’ concerns when he acted oddly and did not comply with their orders to stop using a cellphone camera to record the president in the elevator, according to the people familiar with the incident.
When the elevator opened, Obama left with most of his Secret Service detail. Some agents stayed behind to question the man and then used a national database check that turned up his criminal history.
When a supervisor from the firm providing security at the CDC approached and discovered the agents’ concerns, the contractor was fired on the spot. Then the contractor agreed to turn over his gun — surprising agents, who had not realized that he was armed during his encounter with Obama.
Why does the Secret Service fail so hard all day erry day?
