The White House was placed on lockdown on Saturday evening following a shooting incident involving the Secret Service. The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, reportedly opened fire on a Secret Service security booth and was pronounced dead shortly after 8 p.m. after being transported to a hospital.
Best had a history of mental health issues and had previously attempted to gain entry to the White House in July 2025, resulting in his arrest and subsequent hospitalization in a psychiatric ward. He had been residing in Washington, D.C. for approximately 18 months.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest, with the lockdown being lifted just after 6:45 p.m. A bystander was also struck by gunfire, though the extent of their injuries remains unclear. No injuries were reported among the officers present.
The House GOP expressed gratitude to the Secret Service for their response, emphasizing the need to address political violence. Other lawmakers also condemned the incident, with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul both denouncing political violence.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the FBI was on the scene to assist the Secret Service. Reports indicated that 20 to 30 gunshots were heard by journalists at the scene, with a social media video capturing the moment a reporter took cover during the incident.
At the time of the shooting, President Donald Trump was at the White House for an announcement regarding negotiations related to the war in Iran. He was briefed on the situation and was not harmed.
This incident follows a recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and another shooting involving National Guard members near the White House in November.
