A 21-year-old man named Nasire Best, who apparently thought the best way to gain entry to the White House was to shoot at it first, was killed in an exchange of fire with Secret Service agents on Saturday evening. Officials confirmed the incident began just after 18:00 local time at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, when Best pulled a revolver from his bag and began firing.
Secret Service officers on the corner returned fire, striking Best. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A bystander was also wounded, though the Secret Service declined to provide further details on their condition. No officers were injured, which is always a nice bonus. President Donald Trump was at the White House but remained unharmed, later taking to social media to thank the Secret Service for their 'swift and professional action.'
CBS News, the BBC's US media partner, identified Best as someone already known to the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department, with a documented history of mental health conditions. Sources familiar with the investigation told CBS that Best had attempted to gain entry to the White House back in July 2025, was arrested nearby, and subsequently spent time at a psychiatric facility. He had been living in Washington DC for 18 months, which is just long enough to develop a truly misguided sense of ambition.
Trump noted the shooting happened a month after a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, using the occasion to plug his planned White House ballroom as 'the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington.' Because nothing says security like a construction project. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday morning, 'We live in a heightened threat environment, it's a very serious issue,' adding that Trump 'accepts it' as a 'risk of the job.' Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised the Secret Service's 'decisive actions' on X.
Reporters at the White House, who were filming outside when the shots rang out, ducked and sprinted for the press briefing room. Selina Wang, ABC's senior White House correspondent, shared footage of herself taking cover as a volley of shots echoed across the North Lawn. Aaron Navarro, a CBS News reporter, told the BBC he heard gunshots 'at points sounding like they were coming from different guns' and saw other reporters running. Reporters were locked down for about 30 minutes before eventually seeing ambulances beyond the grounds. Navarro noted the shooting occurred in a busy area with cafes and restaurants, but was mercifully less crowded given it was a weekend evening.