A bystander who was struck by gunfire after a man fired on a checkpoint outside the White House was treated and remains in serious but stable condition. Secret Service officers reported the bystander’s gunshot wound as “not life‑threatening,” but did not specify how the bullet hit.
The suspect, Nasire Best, 21, of Dundalk, Maryland, was shot by Secret Service officers and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities said Best began firing toward the White House security checkpoint, prompting officers to return fire.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House when the shooting occurred. The incident follows two prior attacks in the month: a man armed with weapons stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and fired at Secret Service guards, and earlier this month a gunman opened fire near the Washington Monument.
On Truth Social, Trump described the suspect as having a “possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure” and used the episode to push his political agenda for a new ballroom on the former East Wing of the White House. He’s also asking Congress for $1 billion to fund security upgrades, citing the need for “the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.”
Best’s history of interference with White House security is documented. In July of last year he was arrested after attempting to enter the White House grounds near a different checkpoint. The indictment noted that he ignored officers’ commands, declared himself Jesus Christ, and insisted on being arrested.
When questioned by The Washington Post, Best’s mother, who learned of the shooting via social media, said her son was “never violent,” contradicting the violent claims circulating online.
Best was an athlete at Dundalk High School, graduating in 2023. He was also a track and field athlete, and had other run‑ins with law enforcement after the July arrest. The case illustrates the escalating nature of threats against the White House and the responsiveness of the Secret Service in neutralizing potential dangers.
This shooting adds to a series of events that have raised concerns about presidential security and the effectiveness of current protocols. Security officials continue to evaluate measures that may deter future attacks and protect both the President and the public.
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Primary source: AP News article “Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint, Secret Service says.”}
The suspect, Nasire Best, 21, of Dundalk, Maryland, was shot by Secret Service officers and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. Authorities said Best began firing toward the White House security checkpoint, prompting officers to return fire.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House when the shooting occurred. The incident follows two prior attacks in the month: a man armed with weapons stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and fired at Secret Service guards, and earlier this month a gunman opened fire near the Washington Monument.
On Truth Social, Trump described the suspect as having a “possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure” and used the episode to push his political agenda for a new ballroom on the former East Wing of the White House. He’s also asking Congress for $1 billion to fund security upgrades, citing the need for “the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C.”
Best’s history of interference with White House security is documented. In July of last year he was arrested after attempting to enter the White House grounds near a different checkpoint. The indictment noted that he ignored officers’ commands, declared himself Jesus Christ, and insisted on being arrested.
When questioned by The Washington Post, Best’s mother, who learned of the shooting via social media, said her son was “never violent,” contradicting the violent claims circulating online.
Best was an athlete at Dundalk High School, graduating in 2023. He was also a track and field athlete, and had other run‑ins with law enforcement after the July arrest. The case illustrates the escalating nature of threats against the White House and the responsiveness of the Secret Service in neutralizing potential dangers.
This shooting adds to a series of events that have raised concerns about presidential security and the effectiveness of current protocols. Security officials continue to evaluate measures that may deter future attacks and protect both the President and the public.
---
Primary source: AP News article “Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint, Secret Service says.”}
