A security alert gripped Washington D.C. as a gunman was killed by U.S. Secret Service officers after opening fire near a White House security checkpoint. Identified as Nasire Best, the suspect’s death marks the third gunfire incident near President Donald Trump in the past month, although Trump himself was reportedly ‘not impacted’. A bystander was also injured in the shootout, underscoring escalating security concerns.
A recent security incident near the White House saw a gunman shot dead by U.S. Secret Service officers after opening fire near a security checkpoint. This marks the third instance of gunfire in the vicinity of President Donald Trump within the last month, raising significant concerns about the security of the nation's capital.
According to a preliminary statement from the Secret Service, the individual, later identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, drew a weapon from his bag and began firing shortly after 6 p.m. ET at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Officers promptly returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was subsequently transported to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
While Secret Service officers reported no injuries, a bystander was struck during the exchange. Law enforcement officials are still investigating whether the bystander was hit by the suspect's initial rounds or those fired by the officers. President Donald Trump was present at the White House during the incident but was confirmed to be 'not impacted' by the events.
Evidence of the intense shootout was starkly visible on the sidewalk outside the White House complex, with yellow crime scene tape cordoning off the area and dozens of orange evidence markers dotting the ground alongside medical materials.
This Saturday's incident follows a series of alarming events. Just last month, an attempted assassination on President Trump occurred on April 25th during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to that attack. Additionally, another shooting took place near the Washington Monument on May 4th, where Secret Service officers engaged a suspect, Michael Marx, who had fired at officers, resulting in a teenage bystander being wounded.
The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the Secret Service was managing the scene and urged the public to avoid the area. This location has unfortunately been the site of previous violence, including an ambush last November that killed U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Andrew Wolfe, with Rahmanullah Lakanwal charged in connection to that incident.
Amidst the chaos, Selina Wang, ABC News' senior White House correspondent, captured dramatic footage of the gunfire. Her video, widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed her ducking for cover in a media tent after what she described as 'dozens of gunshots' erupted while she was filming a social media update on President Trump's statements regarding a potential Iran deal. The video quickly garnered millions of views, highlighting the raw intensity of the moment.
