A gunman killed after opening fire near the White House on Saturday evening has been identified by authorities as 21-year-old Nasire Best, a man with a documented history of severe mental illness and repeated confrontations with the Secret Service. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the incident but was not injured.
"Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House." — President Donald Trump, Truth Social
The event unfolded when Best approached a Secret Service checkpoint near the White House complex. According to multiple reports, he suddenly produced a revolver from a bag and began firing at officers guarding the perimeter. Witnesses in the vicinity reported hearing what sounded like dozens of gunshots, leading to immediate chaos and a lockdown around the White House. Secret Service agents quickly engaged Best, exchanging gunfire near the White House gates before ultimately shooting and killing him.
Authorities confirmed that no federal agents sustained injuries during the confrontation. However, one civilian was seriously injured during the shooting. Investigators are currently working to determine whether the civilian was struck by the suspect's gunfire or caught in the crossfire between Best and the Secret Service agents.
Details emerging from the investigation indicate that Best's concerning behavior had been escalating for nearly a year prior to Saturday's deadly confrontation. Reports reveal that Best had been detained by Secret Service agents multiple times in 2025 due to erratic and threatening actions around the White House complex. During one notable incident in June 2025, Best allegedly blocked an entry lane outside the White House, making bizarre statements where he claimed to be "God." Following this encounter, authorities detained him and reportedly transferred him to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington for a mental health evaluation.
Just weeks after the June 2025 incident, Best was again arrested after attempting to enter another restricted area of the White House grounds. A judge subsequently issued an order requiring Best to stay away from the White House entirely. Law enforcement officials have stated that in the months leading up to the shooting, Best repeatedly referred to himself as Jesus Christ and was believed to be suffering from severe mental health issues, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Moments before the attack, witnesses observed Best pacing back and forth along 17th Street Northwest, near the White House perimeter. Authorities believe he then approached the checkpoint and abruptly opened fire. ABC News correspondent Selina Wang, who was recording outside on the White House North Lawn when the gunfire erupted, captured video footage showing reporters ducking for cover as Secret Service agents shouted warnings and rushed journalists into secure areas.
Following the shooting, President Trump took to Truth Social to commend the Secret Service's rapid response and professionalism. "Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House," President Trump wrote. He also noted that the suspect had a "violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure," appearing to reference the White House itself.
The incident marks another significant security scare for President Trump, who has faced multiple alleged assassination threats throughout his political career. The ongoing investigation aims to fully understand Best's motives, the specifics of the civilian injury, and any potential gaps in the system that allowed an individual with a documented history of severe mental illness and prior threats to approach the White House with a firearm.
