A shooting occurred at a security post near the White House, leading to the death of the suspect, as confirmed by the United States Secret Service on Saturday. This incident marks the third shooting near President Donald Trump within the past month.
According to a preliminary report by the Secret Service shared on X, the incident took place around 6 p.m. Eastern Time when a person at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue pulled a weapon from their bag and began firing. The Secret Service agents responded by firing at the suspect, who was then taken to a hospital where he died.
The deceased suspect has been identified as Nasire Best, aged 21, as disclosed by a law enforcement official speaking anonymously due to a lack of authorization to comment on the investigation. This shooting follows two other incidents near the president, including one during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and another near the Washington Monument in early May.
A passerby was also injured by gunfire during the Saturday events, though it remains unclear whether the injuries were caused by the suspect’s gunshots or those of the agents. The Secret Service stated that none of their agents sustained injuries and President Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was not affected.
Journalists present at the White House reported hearing gunfire and were advised to seek shelter within the press briefing room. Evidence of the shooting was visible on the sidewalk outside the White House complex, marked by yellow crime scene tape and multiple orange evidence markers placed by Secret Service agents on the ground. Medical equipment, including surgical gloves and standard emergency kits, was found at the scene.
Selina Wang, ABC News’ White House correspondent, shared a video on X capturing the moment she heard what sounded like dozens of gunshots and took cover. She was engaged in a routine activity common among White House reporters—recording a video post with her phone—discussing President Trump’s remarks on a potential agreement with Iran. The video, widely circulated and viewed, shows Wang reacting to the sounds of gunfire while in the White House media tent.
The Metropolitan Police Department, via its X account, confirmed that the Secret Service was investigating the scene and cautioned the public to avoid the area. This location is close to another past incident where a gunman ambushed two Virginia National Guard members last November. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, died from her injuries, and Andrew Wolfe, aged 24 at the time, was severely injured. Rahmanullah Lakanwal was charged in connection to that incident.
The Saturday shooting comes nearly a month after law enforcement labeled an event as an assassination attempt on the president during the April 25 White House Correspondents’ Dinner at a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen from California pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempt to kill Trump and remains in federal custody.
Days later, Secret Service agents fired at a suspect who had allegedly shot at agents near the Washington Monument. Michael Marx of Texas, aged 45, faced charges regarding the May 4 shooting incident in which a teenager was injured.