A bystander sustained injuries in a shooting incident outside the White House on Saturday. The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, remains in serious but stable condition, according to the Secret Service.
The suspect, Nasire Best, 21, was identified as the individual who initiated gunfire at a security checkpoint. Best was subsequently fatally shot by U.S. Secret Service officers. The district police confirmed that no officers were harmed during the exchange.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran expressed concerns for the injured bystander, stating, “Our thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded during this incident. The Secret Service is hopeful he will make a full recovery.” President Donald Trump was in the White House when the event occurred.
This incident marks the third shooting near the president in a month. Previous incidents include an armed attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and a shooting near the Washington Monument involving a suspect who was shot and injured by officers.
In a social media post, President Trump addressed the incident, making a reference to the suspect’s “possible obsession” with the White House. He further mentioned plans for a safe and secure ballroom on the site of the former East Wing, for which he seeks $1 billion in security funding from Congress.
Nasire Best had previous encounters with law enforcement in the area. Court records revealed his arrest last July for attempting to enter the White House premises and not complying with officers’ commands. Best, who was a track and field athlete and a 2023 graduate of Dundalk High School in Maryland, allegedly claimed to be Jesus Christ during the earlier incident.
Best’s mother, upon hearing the news on social media, was shocked by the reports. She expressed disbelief in her son’s involvement in violence, stating, “He was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.”