Secret Service kills man who opened fire at White House security checkpoint
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
May 23, 2026, 6:53 PM EDT / Updated May 23, 2026, 9:39 PM EDTBy Julie Tsirkin, Megan Shannon, Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst and Marlene Lenthang
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Secret Service fatally shot a person who opened fire on officers at a security checkpoint on Saturday in an exchange of gunfire that briefly locked down the White House, officials said.
The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. when a male approached the Secret Service checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, pulled a gun from a bag and opened fire on officers, the Secret Service said in a statement.
The officers returned fire and shot the suspect, who was taken to a hospital, where he later died, the Secret Service said. The agency said the shooting remains under investigation.
A bystander was also shot, the Secret Service said, but it was unclear who fired the round that injured that person. Their condition was not immediately available.
Six senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter identified the suspect as Nasire Best.
Best had a documented history with local law enforcement, and five senior law enforcement officials said he has a history of mental health concerns.
A police cordon outside the White House complex on Saturday.Alex Brandon / AP
Best, 21, was placed under arrest on a charge of unlawful entry on July 10 after he walked into a restricted area near the White House, according to a court document filed in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. During that incident, he claimed he was Jesus Christ and that he wanted to get arrested, the filing said.
He was known to the U.S. Secret Service for walking around the White House asking about how to gain access at various entry posts, the filing said.
In June, he was involuntary committed for obstructing vehicle entry to the White House complex, the document said.
President Donald Trump, who was at the White House at the time, was not injured, the Secret Service said. There were no injuries to agents, the agency said.
A White House official confirmed the Secret Service briefed Trump about the incident.
An NBC News team at the White House heard between 20 and 30 gunshots at around 6:04 p.m., and Secret Service agents urged reporters who were gathered outside on the North Lawn to run inside the press briefing room.
The Secret Service was posted just outside the room with guns drawn as the White House went into lockdown.
The lockdown, which included the White House grounds, was lifted at 6:46 p.m.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the FBI is on the scene and supporting the Secret Service. TheBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department.
Vice President JD Vance was at the White House earlier today, but it is unclear if he was there at the time of the shooting.
The shooting occurred on the west end of Pennsylvania Avenue, a pedestrian plaza that runs along the north side of the White House. Days earlier, part of plaza had reopened to the public following a monthslong closure.
The U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for information on the situation.
Julie Tsirkin and Megan Shannon reported from Washington, D.C., Tom Winter and Jonathan Dienst from New York and Marlene Lenthang from Los Angeles.
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gee, 4 attempts in less than 2 years. it's shocking how few, considering his unpopularity. I wonder how long it will take the maga dot connectors to solve this perplexing mystery of an unpopular POTUS that ignores his oath of office, attempts to rule with unconstitutional EO's, is more concerned with prosecuting his personal vendettas than representing all americans, has turned political corruption into a multi billion dollar business to benefit he and his family, bullies and alienates our allies, and treats US service people as disposable. his child molesting past almost seems harmless in comparison. although the odds are still pretty long, with the recent uptick in attempts he may still be in contention to break his hero adolph's record of 42 misses. ... well I guess 41 misses and a close but no cigar he's still breathing try ...
Yet he still claims to be the most popular President in history. Now granted, those claims are always direct to his MAGA cultists. Even his extreme narcissism must be running out of excuses.
... not among ex-magas that can't shoot.
I bet it's good.