Gunman killed after opening fire at White House security checkpoint

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White House shooting live: Suspect had previously tried to get inside building and told police ‘he was Jesus Christ’

Trump was at home as incident unfolded in nation’s capital on Saturday evening

A gunman who opened fire at a White House security checkpoint on Saturday evening is dead after Secret Service officers returned fire, in the third incident of gunfire near U.S. President Donald Trump in the past month.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, "pulled a weapon from his bag" in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. ET and began firing, the Secret Service said in a statement on X.

A bystander was also struck, though it was not clear whether they were hit by the suspect's initial bullets or those fired by officers. None of the Secret Service officers was injured.

Trump, who was originally set to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf club, was at the White House at the time of the incident, but was not “impacted,” Secret Service said.

The president thanked the Secret Service in a post, describing the suspect as someone who "had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country's most cherished structure," and called for the White House to become "the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C."

Third shooting incident near the president in a month

Saturday’s shooting was the third time in the past month that shots were fired near President Donald Trump.

The previous two incidents include the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April and an incident where a man allegedly fired a gun at law enforcement officers near the Washington Monument in May.

Isabel Keane24 May 2026 14:50

Shooting was not suspect's first encounter with Secret Service at White Hosue

The man who opened fire near the White House Saturday night, and was killed by Secret Service, had previous encounters with the Secret Service.

Nasire Best, 21, was arrested in July 2025 after attempting to enter a different White House checkpoint. During that encounter, he reportedly claimed he was Jesus Christ and said he wanted to be arrested.

Even before that incident, Best was “known to the Secret Service” for “walking around the White House complex inquiring how to gain access at various entry points,” CNN reported.

He was involuntarily committed on June 26, 2025, for “obstructing vehicle entry” to part of the White House complex.

Best reportedly threatened violence against President Donald Trump on his social media accounts, and wrote in one post, “I’m actually the son of God.”

With reporting by the Associated Press.

Isabel Keane24 May 2026 14:13

Who was Nasire Best, the suspect shot dead near the White House?

Nasire Best, 21, was identified as the suspect by a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they were not authorised to discuss the investigation. The Secret Service said in a preliminary statement on X that he "pulled a weapon from his bag" in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue shortly after 6pm ET and began firing.

According to District of Columbia court records, Best was arrested in July 2025 after he attempted to enter a different White House checkpoint without authorisation, didn't heed officers' commands to stop, "claimed he was Jesus Christ" and said he wanted to be arrested.

An initial hearing was held, and a "Pretrial Stay Away Order" was issued. A bench warrant was issued in August after a notice of "noncompliance" against Best, who did not show up for a subsequent hearing.

Social media reportedly belonging to Best included a post that appeared to threaten violence against Mr Trump and another in which he wrote "I'm actually the son of God."

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 10:30

Full story: Gunshots fired near White House as Secret Service and FBI respond

Approximately 20 shots were heard just after 6 p.m. Eastern Time, appearing to originate from the side of the White House complex that contains the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, multiple local and national reporters who were at the White House at the time said.

U.S. Secret Service personnel immediately responded by ushering them inside.

Read more:

Gunman killed after opening fire on Secret Service checkpoint at White House

White House journalists reported hearing dozens of gunshots before security personnel ordered them to run indoors, putting the complex under lockdown

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 10:00

New York City council speaker reacts to White House shooting

Julie Menin, New York City council speaker, said she is "troubled by the latest shooting that occurred tonight near the White House."

"I’m hoping the injured bystander makes a full recovery, and I’m grateful for the actions of the Secret Service in stopping the shooter from inflicting more harm."

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 09:30

ICYMI: What we know about the shooting near the White House

A suspect opened fire at a White House security checkpoint on Saturday shortly after 6 p.m. ET, near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the Secret Service said

Secret Service officers returned fire, hitting the suspect, who was taken to hospital where he later died. He has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best of Washington D.C.

A bystander was also struck, though it is unclear whether they were hit by the suspect's bullets or those fired by officers

Around 20 shots were heard by journalists working at the White House, who were immediately ushered inside the press briefing room for shelter

Trump was at the White House at the time but was not "impacted," the Secret Service said. None of its officers were injured

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 09:00

White House reporter ducks for cover as gunman opens fire on Secret Service checkpoint

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 08:30

Trump continues working inside White House following nearby shooting

President Donald Trump remains inside the executive mansion and continues to work following the shooting incident outside the complex, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said Saturday.

“President Trump is working at 8:00 PM,” Cheung wrote in a post on X. “Can't stop, won't stop.”

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 08:00

Shooting scene not far from a deadly incident last year

The shooting scene is within walking distance of where a gunman ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November.

U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from the wounds she suffered in that shooting. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, then 24, was critically wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in that incident.

The gunfire Saturday came nearly a month after what law enforcement authorities said was an attempted assassination of the president as he attended the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at a Washington hotel on April 25. Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, recently pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to kill Trump. Allen is accused of running through a security checkpoint inside the hotel and firing a shotgun at a Secret Service officer.

Following that scare, Secret Service officers shot a suspect they said had fired at officers near the Washington Monument, several blocks from the White House. Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, was charged in a complaint filed in U.S. District Court in connection with the 4 May shooting. A teenage bystander was wounded in that incident.

Stuti Mishra24 May 2026 07:30

Suspect had previous run-in with Secret Service

The gunman, who has been named by law enforcement sources to multiple outlets as 21-year-old Nasire Best, had been living in Washington D.C. for around 18-months, according to CBS News.

In July 2025 he was arrested by the Secret Service for trying to gain entry to the White House, a source told the network. He was reportedly sent to a psychiatric ward for mental health issues.

Graeme Massie24 May 2026 07:10