Man Killed By Secret Service After Firing Shots Near White House

WASHINGTON, DC — A man who fired shots in the area of the White House has died after being shot by the Secret Service, the agency said Saturday night.

The man has been identified as Nasire Best, 21, of Maryland, multiple outlets reported.

A bystander was injured in the shooting, said Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the Secret Service. Authorities were trying to determine whether the bystander was injured by Best or the return fire of the Secret Service.

Best had previous encounters with the Secret Service and had mental health issues, Fox News reported. He was detained twice in 2025, including once for entering a restricted area, that report said.

MSNOW reported Best had an order to stay away from the White House.

The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the statement said, when the man pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing.

Secret Service Police returned fire, striking him, the statement said. He was taken to an area hospital and was pronounced dead, the statement said.

No Secret Service agents were injured.

President Donald Trump was in the White House during the incident but "no protectees or operations were impacted," the statement said.

"This incident remains under investigation and additional information will be released as it becomes available," he said.

The man fired three shots, News Nation reported, and the Secret Service returned fire.

Several reporters who were outside the White House on the North Lawn heard the gunfire and said it included 20 to 30 shots. The Secret Service told reporters to run into the White House Press Briefing Room, ABC News reported.

Video shared by ABC News correspondent Selina Wang included the sounds of gunfire in the background, and she and another person can be seen diving for cover.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the agency is on the scene and assisting the Secret Service.