WASHINGTON — A 21-year-old man armed with a pistol opened fire Saturday evening near a Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House, prompting officers to return fire and fatally shoot him before he could reach the secure perimeter.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. on May 23 at the checkpoint located at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. According to officials, the suspect, identified as Nasire Best of Maryland, approached the security post, retrieved a handgun from a bag, and began shooting. Uniformed Secret Service officers quickly engaged the suspect, striking him multiple times. Best was transported to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
One bystander, a 41-year-old man, was wounded during the exchange of gunfire. Authorities report his injuries are serious but non-life-threatening, and he is expected to recover. No Secret Service personnel were injured in the incident. The White House was briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution, though President Trump, who was inside the residence at the time, remained unharmed.
Best had a documented history of prior encounters with the Secret Service, including an attempt last year to access the White House grounds. Reports indicate he had been flagged for mental health concerns and was subject to a stay-away order related to the area. The FBI and Secret Service are leading the active investigation. As of Monday, officials have not released a clear motive, though mental health factors are reportedly under review.
This marks the third reported gunfire-related incident near the White House or involving President Trump in recent weeks, raising fresh questions about security protocols around the presidential complex. The area around Lafayette Square has since reopened to the public, though heightened security remains in place.
