A gunman opened fire on a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint outside the White House Saturday evening and was killed after officers returned fire. A bystander was also wounded. No Secret Service agents were injured.
President Trump was at the White House during the incident, according to CBS News, but was not impacted. The shooting occurred at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and close to a Starbucks on Pennsylvania Avenue. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that somewhere between approximately 15 to 30 gunshots were fired.
The suspect was identified to CBS News by a person familiar with the investigation as 21-year-old Nasire Best. Best had been living in Washington, D.C., for roughly the past 18 months. He had a previous run-in with Secret Service in July 2025 in which he tried to gain entry to the White House and was arrested and sent to a psychiatric ward for mental health issues. Law enforcement sources said Best may have had mental health issues and was also previously known to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Secret Service officers returned fire after Best opened fire on the checkpoint. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Multiple CBS News reporters who were on the White House North Lawn said they heard what sounded like gunfire at around 6 p.m. ET before U.S. Secret Service ushered them inside. CBS News reporter Aaron Navarro reported from the scene after Secret Service told him to get down immediately. A White House lockdown was lifted just before 7 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson both praised the Secret Service response. In a social media post, Thune said he was "grateful for the Secret Service and the agents' decisive actions to protect President Trump and everyone at and around the White House this evening." Johnson wrote on X, "We are grateful for our brave Secret Service agents who took quick, decisive action to protect President Trump, and our praye" — the post appeared to be cut off in the available text.
The name of Best was confirmed through a source familiar with the investigation, not officially announced by the Secret Service as of the time of reporting.
