Gunman Shot Dead Outside the White House

United States Secret Service shot and killed a man who opened fire at a security checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening, briefly locking down the presidential residence.

Officials said the incident happened around 6 p.m. when the suspect approached the checkpoint, pulled a gun from a bag and began firing at officers. Agents returned fire, striking the man, who was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. A bystander was also injured during the exchange.

Law enforcement sources identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best, who reportedly had a history of mental health concerns and previous encounters with the Secret Service. Court records show Best was arrested last July after entering a restricted area near the White House, where he allegedly claimed to be Jesus Christ and said he wanted to be arrested. He was also involuntarily committed in June after obstructing vehicle access to the complex. Authorities add that he was known for repeatedly approaching White House entry points and asking questions about gaining access to the grounds.

President Donald Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was not harmed. He later posted on Truth Social, thanking law enforcement for their “swift and professional action”, and used the occasion to renew his push for a new, more secure presidential facility in Washington. The White House, located in the heart of Washington D.C., is among the most heavily secured buildings in the world and serves as both the home and primary workplace of the US president.

The shooting comes just one month after a separate shooting incident at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.