Sunday, May 24, 2026- A gunman was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service after opening fire near a security checkpoint outside the White House on Saturday evening, triggering a major lockdown and emergency response across central Washington.
Authorities say the suspect approached a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, pulled a firearm from a bag, and began shooting toward officers guarding the complex. Secret Service agents immediately returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect while preventing the attacker from breaching the area.
Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best, a man reportedly known to both police and the Secret Service following earlier incidents near the White House involving mental health concerns and unauthorized access attempts.
Officials confirmed that President Donald Trump was inside the White House during the shooting but was not harmed. A bystander was also struck during the exchange of gunfire and transported to a nearby hospital, though investigators have not yet confirmed whose bullets caused the injury.
The shooting sent journalists and White House staff scrambling for cover as witnesses reported hearing between 15 and 30 gunshots in rapid succession. Federal investigators, including the FBI, are now examining the suspect’s background, online activity, and possible motive while security concerns intensify around the White House complex.
The incident marks yet another major security scare in Washington following several recent violent episodes involving federal officials and protected government sites.
0 Comments