A gunman was shot dead by the U.S Secret Service after he opened fire near the western perimeter of the White House on Saturday evening. President Donald Trump was inside the building as the suspect was taken to George Washington Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to reports, a bystander was seriously injured during the shooting. The Secret Service officials were unharmed.
The White House was placed under lockdown for 30 minutes after the shooting. Journalists, who were inside the complex, were moved to secure locations.
The gunman was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, who had previously come under scrutiny by the law enforcement after numerous encounters near the White House during the past year. Court records stated that Best had a history of asking officers around the White House complex how to gain entry through different access points.
According to CNN, investigators reviewed his online activity at the time and found posts in which he called himself “the real” Osama Bin Laden. Laden was the founder and leader of the infamous terror group Al-Qaeda, allegedly responsible for the September 11, 2001 Twin Tower attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City. Officials also found a post showing Best’s desire to hurt Trump.
The New York Post reported that the suspect was forcibly taken for a mental health evaluation after he reportedly blocked vehicles near the White House in June 2025. He reappeared a month later, entering a restricted area despite warning signs before being stopped by officers.
Court documents cited that Best claimed he was “God” and “Jesus Christ”, and told officers he wanted to be arrested. Officials described him as emotionally disturbed while a judge ordered him to stay away from the White House complex.
However, authorities said they had never seen him with a weapon or act violently before the Saturday incident.
