Chaos Near White House: Secret Service Shoots Armed Individual, Bystander Hit

In a dramatic turn of events near the White House, a 21-year-old man identified as Nasire Best was shot and killed by Secret Service officers on Saturday after he allegedly drew a weapon and opened fire at a security checkpoint. The incident, which occurred around 6 p.m. ET near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, also resulted in a bystander being struck by gunfire. The bystander's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and it remains unclear whether they were hit by the suspect's initial shots or by return fire from officers.

The Secret Service confirmed that none of its officers were injured during the exchange. President Donald Trump, who was at the White House at the time, was also unharmed.

This marks the third instance of gunfire in close proximity to the President in the past month, raising concerns about security. Previously, there were incidents during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in April and near the Washington Monument in early May. In the latter incident, a teenage bystander was wounded.

Crime scene tape cordoned off the area outside the White House, with numerous evidence markers visible on the sidewalk, alongside medical supplies suggesting immediate first aid was administered.

Video captured by ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang showed the chaotic moments after the shooting. In her X post, Wang described hearing what sounded like "dozens of gunshots" while she was filming a report. Her footage vividly depicts the sudden eruption of gunfire and her urgent descent for cover within the media tent area.

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The Metropolitan Police Department also acknowledged the incident on X, urging the public to avoid the area while the Secret Service conducted its investigation. The location is notably close to where an ambush of West Virginia National Guard members occurred last November, resulting in one fatality and one critical injury.

This latest event adds to a series of security scares surrounding President Trump. On April 25, an alleged assassination attempt took place at a Washington hotel, leading to the arrest of Cole Tomas Allen. The subsequent shooting near the Washington Monument on May 4, involving suspect Michael Marx, further underscored the heightened security concerns in the capital.