New details have emerged following the shocking shooting near the White House on Saturday, May 23 2026, with authorities now identifying the gunman who was killed after allegedly opening fire at a Secret Service checkpoint.
According to CBS News, a source familiar with the investigation said the suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, who had reportedly been living in Washington, D.C., for approximately the past 18 months.
The incident unfolded near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, close to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and just steps from the White House grounds.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson confirmed that officers stationed at the checkpoint exchanged gunfire with the suspect after he allegedly opened fire first.
Secret Service agents returned fire, critically wounding Nasire, who was later transported to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries. Authorities also confirmed that a bystander was wounded during the chaotic incident, although no Secret Service personnel were injured.
President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time of the shooting, though officials stressed he was not impacted by the incident.
© AFP via Getty ImagesLaw enforcement sources told CBS News that somewhere between 15 and 30 shots were fired during the confrontation, which triggered an immediate lockdown at the White House complex.
Several reporters positioned on the North Lawn described hearing what sounded like rapid gunfire shortly before 6pm local time before Secret Service agents urgently escorted members of the press inside for safety. The lockdown remained in effect for nearly an hour before being lifted shortly before 7pm.
© AFP via Getty ImagesInvestigators have also revealed that Nasire allegedly had a previous encounter with the Secret Service less than a year earlier. He was arrested near the White House in July 2025 after allegedly attempting to gain entry to the complex. Following that incident, he was reportedly sent to a psychiatric ward for mental health treatment. Officials have not yet disclosed a possible motive behind Saturday’s shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe dramatic confrontation sparked concern across social media as videos and eyewitness accounts rapidly spread online, with many reacting to the extraordinary security response surrounding one of the most heavily protected locations in the United States.
The Secret Service, FBI and local law enforcement agencies are continuing to review evidence and piece together the timeline leading up to the deadly incident.
Authorities are also expected to examine how the suspect was able to approach the checkpoint armed despite his prior interactions with federal security officials.
Read the full article here
