Bystander in serious condition after fatal shooting near White House checkpoint
A bystander was wounded and remains in serious but stable condition as investigators review the suspect’s prior encounters with law enforcement.
- On Saturday evening, 21-year-old Nasire Best opened fire at a White House security checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, prompting Secret Service agents to return fire and fatally strike him; a bystander sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the exchange.
- Court records indicate Best had been on law enforcement's radar for nearly a year, with prior arrests for attempting to access the White House complex and a standing judicial 'stay away' order; he previously claimed to be 'Jesus Christ' and faced psychiatric commitments.
- Officials have not determined whether the bystander was struck by the suspect or return fire from agents, as ballistics reviews continue; the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department are currently investigating the circumstances, including how many shots were fired.
- President Donald Trump praised law enforcement for their "swift and professional action" while advocating for $1 billion in security upgrades, specifically citing the shooting to promote his proposed ballroom construction on the White House's former East Wing site.
- This incident marks the third shooting near the president in the past month, following attacks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and the Washington Monument, as lawmakers condemned the violence and warned of rising political extremism nationwide.
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3 things to know about the gunman killed outside White House who once called himself Jesus Christ
A gunman who once claimed to be Jesus Christ was shot and killed by Secret Service agents after opening fire near the White House over Memorial Day weekend. Here are three things to know about Nasire Best.
Gunman Who Fired Multiple Shots At White House Identified
The gunman who opened fire at a White House security checkpoint on Saturday evening has been identified as Nasire Best, 21, who had a history of mental illness and prior encounters with Secret Service and local law enforcement. Best, who had been issued a stay-away order from the White House in 2025, fired multiple shots before being fatally shot by return fire. One bystander was seriously wounded. President Trump and White House staff were unha…
Shooting near White House raises security concerns ahead of America's 250th birthday celebrations
Saturday's shooting near the White House has raised security concerns ahead of summer celebrations to mark America's 250th birthday. The shooter, who was killed after opening fire on a Secret Service checkpoint, had previously blocked a White House entry lane last June, court records show. Nicole Sganga reports.
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