A bystander wounded by gunfire after a man shot at a checkpoint outside the White House remains in serious but stable condition. U.S. Secret Service officers fatally shot the suspect in response. The injured bystander, whose identity remains undisclosed, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The exact circumstances of how he was shot remain unclear.
Authorities have released limited information about the incident, which occurred early Saturday evening. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best. He began shooting towards the White House security checkpoint, prompting Secret Service officers to return fire. Best, from Dundalk, Maryland, died at a hospital following the encounter.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran confirmed that no officers were injured. He expressed concern for the bystander, hoping for a full recovery, and noted President Donald Trump was inside the White House during the shooting.
This marks the third shooting near the president in recent weeks, following two other incidents in the past month. In one case, an intruder armed with weapons disrupted the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, and in another, officers shot a man near the Washington Monument.
President Trump commented on the Saturday shooting via Truth Social, suggesting the suspect was “possibly obsessed” with the White House. He used the event to support his plan for a new secure ballroom on the former East Wing site, seeking $1 billion from Congress for security enhancements at the White House.
Records reveal that Best had prior interactions with law enforcement near the White House. Last July, he was arrested for trying to access the grounds, claiming to be Jesus Christ, and stating a desire for arrest. Best graduated from Dundalk High School in 2023, having been a track and field athlete.
His mother, who identified herself in comments to The Washington Post, found about the incident through social media and expressed disbelief, describing her son as non-violent.