New Delhi: A shooting incident near the White House on Saturday evening resulted in the death of a 21-year-old man after he allegedly opened fire at a security checkpoint, according to law enforcement officials. A bystander was also critically injured during the exchange.
Authorities said the incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. ET when an individual approached a checkpoint outside the White House complex and began firing toward security personnel, as per an initial assessment shared by the Secret Service.
Security officers responded to the attack with defensive gunfire. The suspect was later taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to CNN.com.
Officials confirmed that a bystander was struck during the incident. Investigators are still determining whether the injury resulted from the suspect’s initial firing or the subsequent exchange of shots.
No members of the Secret Service were injured. Officials added that the President was inside the White House at the time and was not impacted by the incident. He was later informed about the situation.
The injured civilian remains in critical condition, according to a law enforcement source.
Multiple sources have identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best. According to law enforcement accounts, he had prior interactions with the Secret Service, including an episode in June 2025 when he allegedly obstructed a White House entry lane and was detained after making unusual statements claiming he was “God.” He was later sent for psychiatric evaluation at a Washington facility.
In a separate incident in July 2025, he was again taken into custody after allegedly attempting to access a restricted White House driveway, after which a court order reportedly prohibited him from entering White House grounds.
Investigators have also reviewed social media activity linked to the suspect, which reportedly included claims identifying himself as “the real” Osama bin Laden and statements indicating hostility toward the President.
