On Saturday evening, a man opened fire near a White House security checkpoint, resulting in the suspect's death after being shot by U.S. Secret Service officers. The incident, which took place around 6 p.m. EDT in the vicinity of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, marks the third gunfire event near President Donald Trump in the past month. The man was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, as reported by a law enforcement official who requested anonymity due to ongoing investigations.
According to the Secret Service, Best pulled a weapon from his bag and began shooting at around 6 p.m. The responding officers returned fire, striking him. He was subsequently transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The situation escalated quickly, and a bystander was also struck, although it remains unclear whether the individual was injured by Best's initial rounds or the shots fired by law enforcement officers.
Best had a previous encounter with law enforcement; he was arrested in July 2025 after attempting to enter a White House checkpoint without authorization. During that arrest, he allegedly claimed to be Jesus Christ and expressed a desire to be taken into custody. Following that incident, a "Pretrial Stay Away Order" was issued to prevent him from approaching certain areas, but a bench warrant was later issued due to noncompliance. Despite these legal issues, Best had appeared for subsequent hearings.
The Saturday incident adds to a concerning trend, as shots have been fired near the president on two previous occasions in recent weeks. These incidents included a gunfire scenario at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April and another near the Washington Monument in early May. In both instances, law enforcement responded to shots fired in close proximity to presidential events.
During the gunfire, none of the Secret Service officers were injured. President Trump was reportedly in the White House at the time and was not affected by the shooting. Interestingly, he had changed his weekend plans on Friday, opting to stay at the White House instead of traveling to his New Jersey golf club.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media that agency personnel were present at the scene, assuring that updates would be communicated to the public as more information became available. Eyewitness accounts from journalists in the White House indicated a chaotic atmosphere, with reports of gunfire prompting security to direct reporters to take shelter inside the press briefing room.
ABC News senior White House correspondent Selina Wang shared dramatic footage on social media, depicting her reaction as she filmed a routine report before diving for cover upon hearing the barrage of gunshots. Her video has garnered significant attention, with millions of views and thousands of shares shortly after it was posted online.
The site of the shooting is notably close to a tragic incident that occurred last November, where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed in a separate act of gun violence. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was just 20 years old, lost her life due to that shooting, and another soldier, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, suffered critical injuries.
The escalation of these incidents reflects a serious security concern, as the most recent gunfire occurred shortly after an attempted assassination of President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on April 25. In that case, a man named Cole Tomas Allen was charged with attempting to kill Trump after firing a shotgun at a Secret Service officer during the event. Another recent incident involved a man, Michael Marx, who allegedly fired at officers near the Washington Monument in early May, resulting in injuries to a teenage bystander.
This series of events underscores the potential risks associated with presidential security and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining safety in and around the White House.
