Alleged gunman killed in shooting near White House identified [View all]

Source: USA Today

May 23, 2026 Updated May 24, 2026, 12:21 a.m. ET


A gunman opened fire near the White House Saturday evening and was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service, the agency said. A bystander also was struck by gunfire, according to the Secret Service. No officers were injured. President Donald Trump was in the White House during the May 23 incident but was not impacted.

The shooting took place shortly after 6 p.m. EDT near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House complex on the west side. The gunman "pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing," according to the Secret Service statement. Officers returned fire, hitting the gunman who later was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Secret Service did not release the condition of the bystander.

The suspected gunman is 21-year-old Nasire Best, according to an official familiar with the incident. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was charged in DC Superior Court with attempting to unlawfully enter 1699 State Place NW, one of the entry points to the White House complex, on July 10, 2025.

The incident outside the White House Saturday sent reporters who were working nearby scrambling, and prompted a multi-agency law enforcement response. Reporters said they heard what appeared to be dozens of gunshots.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/23/gunshots-at-white-house-lead-to-lockdown-fbi-says-live-updates--live/90238194007/