U.S. Secret Service officers shot and killed a gunman outside a White House security checkpoint on Saturday evening. The incident triggered an immediate lockdown of the executive complex while President Donald Trump held diplomatic meetings inside.
The gunfire broke out shortly after 6:00 p.m. ET near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. An individual pulled a weapon from a bag and opened fire, prompting Secret Service officers to return fire. The suspect was struck and transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Law enforcement identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best, an individual who had an active bench warrant issued against him for violating a Pretrial Stay Away Order. Best’s identity and the context of this being the third gunfire incident near President Trump in the past month were detailed in reporting by the Associated Press.
A bystander was also seriously wounded during the exchange of gunfire. Medical personnel have not clarified whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s weapon or by bullets fired by responding officers. No Secret Service personnel were injured during the altercation.
President Donald Trump was inside the executive mansion during the gunfire, reportedly holding discussions on an Iran peace agreement with Middle Eastern leaders as the administration simultaneously targets the Iran energy crisis. He was not harmed and the immediate threat was neutralized outside the perimeter.
Following the shooting, the Secret Service cleared the North Lawn and deployed countersnipers to the White House roof. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that federal agents immediately responded to the scene to assist the Secret Service with the ongoing investigation.
This event follows two recent security breaches in the immediate vicinity of the president. On April 25, suspect Cole Tomas Allen was involved in an attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Less than two weeks later, on May 4, another shooting occurred near the Washington Monument involving suspect Michael Marx.