Suspect identified after shooting near White House
Madeleine Rivera reports live from Washington, D.C., on the shooting incident near the White House where a gunman was killed after allegedly opening fire. Retired Secret Service agent Jeff James provides expert analysis on the incident.
NEWYou can now listen to articles!
An ABC News White House correspondent dove for cover Saturday evening on the White House North Lawn in Washington, D.C., after a gunman opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint while President Donald Trump was inside the White House working on Iran peace talks.
A video posted on X by ABC News correspondent Selina Wang shows Wang ducking for cover, as an off-camera voice warned the crew as gunfire broke out.
The video has now gone viral and accumulated more than 10.5 million views.
Multiple sources confirmed to Digital the male gunman who allegedly opened fire with a pistol Saturday near the White House in Washington, D.C., and was fatally shot by the U.S. Secret Service, has been identified as Nasire Best, 21, of Maryland. (Associated Press | Obtained by the New York Post)
WHITE HOUSE ON LOCKDOWN AFTER APPARENT SHOTS FIRED NEAR EXECUTIVE MANSION: REPORTS
Wang was recording a social media report on Trump’s claim that an Iran peace deal was close when apparent gunshots rang out, forcing Wang and her crew members to quickly duck for cover.
Wang later wrote on X that she heard what “sounded like dozens of gunshots.”
The Secret Service said the shooting began shortly after 6 p.m. near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
“Secret Service police officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was transported to an area hospital, where he later died,” the Secret Service said in a statement cited by ABC News.
An armed Secret Service agent stands alert outside the White House in Washington, D.C., after gunshots were reportedly heard on Saturday. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
WHITE HOUSE GUNMAN HAD CRIMINAL RECORD, HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
A bystander was also wounded, though officials had not said who fired the round that struck the person or released the person’s condition. No Secret Service agents were injured. Trump was inside the White House at the time and was briefed on the shooting.
The gunman reportedly fired several shots toward a Secret Service booth before Uniformed Division officers returned fire.
Multiple sources confirmed to Digital the gunman has been identified as Nasire Best, 21, of Maryland.
FBI and other federal law enforcement agents respond to a shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
ARMED SUSPECT WHO ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT SECRET SERVICE OFFICERS NEAR WHITE HOUSE IDENTIFIED AS TEXAS MAN
The Secret Service confirmed Trump was at the White House during the shooting. A White House spokesperson said the president was there, “but was not impacted.”
Trump praised law enforcement in a Truth Social post.
“Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure,” Trump wrote.
The map of the Secret Service-involved White House security checkpoint shooting Saturday. ()
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP
Trump also tied the shooting to last month’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.
“This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondent’Dinner shooting,” Trump said. “And goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it!”
FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post that federal agents were assisting the Secret Service response.
“We will update the public as we’re able,” Patel said.
ABC News did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment.
