A gunman was shot dead by United States Secret Service agents after opening fire near the White House on Saturday evening, authorities have confirmed.
The incident occurred shortly after 6:00 p.m. local time near the White House security perimeter in Washington, D.C., while President Donald Trump was inside the White House.
According to Secret Service communications chief Anthony Guglielmi, the suspect pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing near the heavily secured area.
“Secret Service Police returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” Guglielmi said in a statement.
Authorities also confirmed that a bystander was struck during the exchange of gunfire, though details about the victim’s condition were not immediately disclosed.
No Secret Service personnel were injured in the incident.
Several US media outlets identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best from Maryland, reporting that he allegedly had a history of mental health concerns and prior interactions with law enforcement and security agencies.
Following the shooting, police and security operatives flooded the area, sealing off sections of downtown Washington near the White House complex.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunshots rang out.
“We heard probably 20 to 25 sounds that seemed like fireworks, but they were gunshots, and then everyone started running,” Canadian tourist Reid Adrian told reporters.
Journalists working on the White House North Lawn were reportedly instructed to take cover inside the press briefing room during the incident.
ABC News correspondent Selina Wang, who was recording a video at the time, captured the sound of the gunfire before diving to the ground.
“It sounded like dozens of gunshots,” she wrote on social media platform X.
The shooting comes amid heightened security concerns surrounding President Trump, who has reportedly faced multiple assassination threats in recent years.
In July 2024, Trump survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman killed a spectator and injured the then-presidential candidate.
Another armed suspect was later arrested near a golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was present.
Reacting to Saturday’s incident, Republican lawmakers praised the Secret Service for its swift response.
“Thank God President Trump is safe. Endless gratitude to the Secret Service for their immediate, heroic response. Political violence has to stop,” House Republicans said in a statement posted on X.
Security around the White House has been significantly strengthened since Trump returned to office, with ongoing construction projects aimed at improving protection measures around the presidential complex.
