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Gunman Dies After Shooting at White House Security Checkpoint, Wounding Bystander
Developing
In Short: A man who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing was killed by Secret Service officers, while a bystander was also wounded, according to federal officials.
A gunman who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing was killed by Secret Service officers who returned fire, according to a law enforcement official. The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on Saturday.
A bystander was also struck, though it was unclear whether the injury was from the suspect's initial gunfire or the officers' return fire. Journalists working at the White House reported hearing a series of gunshots and sought shelter.
The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, was previously arrested in July 2025 for attempting to enter a White House checkpoint without authorization and making claims of being Jesus Christ.
The gunfire came nearly a month after an attempted assassination of the president at a Washington hotel, highlighting heightened security measures around the White House.
Background
The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the national capital was moved from Philadelphia.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- The Secret Service shot a person near the White House on Saturday, and a bystander also was shot, a law enforcement official said.
- A person who approached a White House security checkpoint and began firing at officers has died, according to federal officials.
- The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement late Saturday that, according to a preliminary investigation, the person approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 p.m.
- WASHINGTON (AP) — A man who opened fire Saturday near a White House security checkpoint is dead after being shot by officers who returned fire, the U.S. Secret Service said.
- Secret Service officers returned fire and hit the suspect, who died at a hospital, the agency said.
- The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, said a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation.
- According to District of Columbia court records, Best was arrested in July 2025 after he attempted to enter a different White House checkpoint without authorization, didn’t heed officers’ commands to stop, “claimed…
- A bystander was also struck on Saturday, but a law enforcement official said it wasn’t clear whether that person was hit by the suspect’s initial bullets or those fired subsequently by officers.