On the afternoon of May 23, 2026, a shooting occurred near the White House in Washington, D.C. A reporter at the scene heard dozens of gunshots. The U.S. Secret Service quickly responded and exchanged fire with the gunman, identified as Nasire Best. The suspect was taken to the hospital, where he died. One bystander was injured during the incident. Law enforcement officials reportedly described Best as an “emotionally unstable individual.”
According to the Associated Press, law enforcement officials said that U.S. Secret Service personnel rushed to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire near the White House and engaged in a shootout with the attacker, resulting in two people being shot.
CNN reported that journalists near the White House heard what sounded like dozens of gunshots at the intersection of 17th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue. Notably, the location is outside the White House complex itself.
Members of the press pool working on the White House North Lawn were urgently evacuated into the White House press briefing room. Inside the White House, Secret Service agents shouted “get down” and warned that there was “a shooting outside,” instructing journalists to shelter in place.
Witnesses said that after the incident, large numbers of heavily armed police officers and Secret Service agents quickly arrived and established a security perimeter around the White House area, blocking public and vehicle access.
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According to CBS News, a Secret Service spokesperson, citing preliminary findings, said that shortly after 6 p.m. on May 23, a man approached a checkpoint outside the White House complex and opened fire on Secret Service personnel. Agents returned fire and struck the suspect, who later died at a local hospital.
The spokesperson confirmed: “During the shooting, a bystander was also struck by gunfire. It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire.”
The spokesperson also added that no Secret Service personnel were injured, and President Trump, who was at the White House residence at the time, was not affected by the incident.
CNN reported, citing three sources, that the suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Nasir Best. A law enforcement source said Best had prior interactions with the Secret Service. In June 2025, he was arrested for blocking a White House entrance. A month later, he again attempted to enter the White House driveway and was arrested by the Secret Service, after which a judge issued an order prohibiting him from approaching the White House.
The New York Post also published a photo of Best, reporting that he was from Maryland. A source told the Post that Best reportedly believed himself to be Jesus Christ.
Fox News reported that the shooter did not breach the White House perimeter. After firing a few shots, he was met with intense return fire from the Secret Service. This suggests that much of the sustained gunfire heard during the incident may have come from law enforcement personnel at the White House.
