An armed man was fatally shot by United States Secret Service agents on Saturday evening after he drew a weapon and opened fire at a security checkpoint immediately outside the White House complex. The assailant, who was later pronounced dead at a Washington hospital, reportedly possessed a history of psychiatric instability and had prior interactions with federal law enforcement, including an encounter the previous day during which he claimed to be Jesus Christ.
The shooting occurred shortly after 18:00 local time at a security post located near the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, adjacent to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Shootout triggers complex lockdown
According to Secret Service spokesperson Andy Guglielmi, the suspect approached the secure perimeter, removed a firearm from a bag, and began firing directly at posted law enforcement officers. Personnel on the scene returned fire, striking the individual multiple times.
The suspect was transported to George Washington University Hospital in critical condition, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries. A bystander present in the vicinity was also struck during the exchange of gunfire and remains hospitalised. No Secret Service personnel sustained injuries during the confrontation.
The sound of discharging firearms, estimated by witnesses to be between 15 and 30 rounds, triggered an immediate security lockdown of the executive mansion. Journalists working on the White House North Lawn were ordered by armed agents to seek shelter inside the press briefing room, where press corps members remained contained for approximately 45 minutes until the perimeter was secured.
Identity and background of the suspect
Federal law enforcement officials have identified the deceased gunman as Nasire Best, a 21-year-old resident of Maryland who had been living in Washington D.C. for the past 18 months. Investigative sources revealed that Best was well known to the Secret Service due to prior erratic behaviour.
On the day preceding the shooting, Best had reportedly attempted to breach a security checkpoint outside the White House grounds. During that encounter, he informed security personnel that he was Jesus Christ and requested that officers place him under arrest. He was turned away from the perimeter but returned twenty-four hours later with a concealed revolver.
Presidential security under scrutiny
US President Donald Trump was inside the executive mansion at the time of the incident, having cancelled scheduled travel due to ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict with Iran. White House officials confirmed that the President was entirely unaffected by the event and that the security perimeter of the residence itself was never breached.
Writing on Truth Social following the resolution of the threat, President Trump commended the Secret Service and local law enforcement for their rapid and professional response. He noted that the gunman possessed a clear history of violence and an apparent fixation on the presidential complex.
The shooting represents the latest in a series of security emergencies involving the US President. It follows an armed disruption at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on 25 April, during which a California man, Cole Tomas Allen, attempted to breach a ballroom checkpoint with a shotgun. Federal authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under Director Kash Patel, have launched a joint investigation into the motives and planning behind Best's actions.
