Bystander Injured in White House Checkpoint Shooting

A bystander is in serious but stable condition after being hit by gunfire when a man fired at a checkpoint outside the White House. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Details about how the bystander was injured remain unclear.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best from Dundalk, Maryland, started shooting towards the White House security checkpoint. Secret Service officers responded by returning fire, and Best was pronounced dead at a hospital. No officers were harmed during the incident, according to Secret Service Director Sean Curran.

Our thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded during this incident, Curran stated. The Secret Service is hopeful he will make a full recovery.

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the shooting. This incident marks the third shooting near the president in the last month. Earlier incidents included an armed man at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in April and another man fired at Secret Service officers near the Washington Monument earlier this month.

Trump commented on Truth Social, suggesting that the suspect had a possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure. He linked the shooting to his proposal for a secure ballroom on the White House’s former East Wing site. Trump is seeking $1 billion from Congress for enhanced security on the White House campus.

Authorities revealed Best had a previous incident near the White House last July. He was arrested after trying to enter the grounds, ignoring commands, and claiming to be Jesus Christ. Best was a former track and field athlete and graduated from Dundalk High School in 2023.

His mother expressed disbelief after learning about the shooting on social media, stating her son was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.