Security Breach Near White House: Suspect Killed

On Saturday, the U.S. Secret Service reported that a person opened fire near a White House security post and was shot dead by agents. This incident marks the third shooting near President Donald Trump in a month.

The Secret Service stated that the individual drew a weapon from a bag near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern Time and began shooting. In response, agents fired at the suspect, who was then taken to a hospital and later died.

Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best. This follows two other shooting incidents last month, including one during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and another near the Washington Monument in early May.

On Saturday, a bystander was also injured, though it remains unclear if the injury was caused by gunfire from the suspect or the agents. The Secret Service confirmed there were no injuries among their agents and that President Trump was inside the White House, unaffected by the incident.

Journalists present at the White House reported hearing gunshots and were instructed to take shelter in the press briefing room. Evidence of the shooting was visible on a sidewalk outside the White House complex, marked by crime scene tape and evidence markers placed by Secret Service agents. Medical equipment, including purple surgical gloves and kits typically used by emergency medical personnel, was also observed.

ABC News correspondent Selina Wang shared a video on social media, describing hearing numerous gunshots while filming a routine segment about Trump’s statements on a potential agreement with Iran. In the video, Wang is seen reacting to the sounds by taking cover.

The Metropolitan Police Department stated on social media that the Secret Service was handling the scene and advised the public to avoid the area. The location of this incident is near where an armed man ambushed two members of the West Virginia National Guard last November, leading to the death of 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and serious injury to Andrew Wolfe. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged for that attack.

The shooting on Saturday occurred nearly a month after an alleged assassination attempt on President Trump on April 25 during the Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington. Cole Tomas Allen from California, facing charges for that attempt, pleaded not guilty and remains in federal custody.

Soon after, Secret Service agents shot a suspect who allegedly fired at agents near the Washington Monument. Michael Marx, aged 45 from Texas, faces charges related to the May 4 shooting, which also injured a teenage bystander.

Contributions to this report were made by The Associated Press photojournalists Jose Luis Magana and Alex Brandon, and reporters Gary Fields, Meg Kinnard, and Matthew Daly.