WASHINGTON (AP) — A shooting incident occurred at a White House security checkpoint on Saturday, resulting in the death of the individual who opened fire, according to the U.S. Secret Service. This marks the third occurrence of gunfire near President Donald Trump in the last month.
The Secret Service reported in a preliminary statement on X that the suspect, located at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, drew a weapon from his bag shortly after 6 p.m. ET and began shooting. Officers returned fire, wounding the suspect, who was then taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, as disclosed by a law enforcement official who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly about the investigation.
District of Columbia court records reveal that Best had been arrested in July 2025 after trying to enter another White House checkpoint unauthorized. He allegedly ignored officers’ commands, claimed he was Jesus Christ, and expressed a desire to be arrested.
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Following an initial hearing, a “Pretrial Stay Away Order” was issued, which typically prevents a defendant from approaching certain people or areas before trial. A bench warrant was later issued in August due to Best’s failure to appear for a subsequent hearing.
This event marks the third instance of gunfire near the president in the past month, following incidents at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April and near the Washington Monument earlier in May.
A bystander was also injured during Saturday’s incident, although it remains unclear whether the injury resulted from the suspect’s initial shots or those fired by officers.
The Secret Service confirmed that no officers were injured and that Trump, who was present at the White House, was not affected by the incident.
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Journalists reporting from the White House on Saturday evening heard the gunshots and were instructed to take shelter in the press briefing room.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media that officers were responding to the gunfire and promised updates as more information became available.
Outside the White House complex, evidence of the shooting was evident. Yellow crime scene tape cordoned off the area, and U.S. Secret Service officers placed numerous orange evidence markers on the pavement. Medical supplies, including purple surgical gloves and emergency kits, were also visible.
ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang shared a video on X showing the moment she heard what sounded like a barrage of gunfire and ducked for cover. In the video, she had been discussing Trump’s earlier comments about a potential Iran deal for a social media post.
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When the gunfire erupted, Wang’s video captured her reaction as she ducked in the media tent, which is one of several located along the White House driveway for reporters. By Saturday evening, her video had been shared thousands of times and viewed over 3 million times on X.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced on its X account that the Secret Service was handling the scene and advised people to steer clear of the area. This location is near where a gunman attacked two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November.
U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, died from her injuries, while Andrew Wolfe, who was 24 at the time, was critically injured. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in relation to that incident.
The shooting on Saturday occurred almost a month after what authorities described as an assassination attempt on the president on April 25, during the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner at a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, recently pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to assassinate Trump and remains in federal custody.
Following that incident, Secret Service officers shot a suspect who allegedly fired at officers near the Washington Monument, close to the White House. Michael Marx, 45, from Midland, Texas, has been charged in connection with the May 4 shooting. A teenage bystander was injured during that event.
Kinnard reported from Columbia, South Carolina. Associated Press photojournalists Jose Luis Magana and Alex Brandon and AP writers Gary Fields and Matthew Daly contributed to this report.
