The White House went into a lockdown Saturday evening after two people were shot in an encounter with Secret Service.
The suspect accused of opening fire on a Secret Service security booth has been identified as a 21-year-old Maryland man named Nasire Best, according to Fox News. He was pronounced dead by the Secret Service shortly after 8 p.m. after being taken to the hospital.
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The accused shooter has a history of mental health issues and “had an incident with U.S. Secret Service in July 2025 in which he tried to gain entry to the White House and was arrested” by Secret Service, according to CBS News.
The agency confirmed a bystander “was also struck by gunfire” during the shooting, and that no injuries were sustained by officers. The suspect’s identity has not yet been confirmed.
The House GOP expressed “Endless gratitude to the Secret Service for their immediate, heroic response” in a post on X, adding that “Political violence has to stop.”
Many other lawmakers condemned political violence in short statements on X.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said “I’m horrified that gunshots have been fired near the White House and grateful to the Secret Service for their swift response. There is no room for political violence in our democracy.” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) also said “Political violence has no place in America.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said immediately after the incident the “FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds.” About 20 to 30 gunshots were heard by reporters gathered on the North Lawn.
President Donald Trump was at the White House at the time of the shooting, having just made an announcement about negotiations regarding the war in Iran. He has been briefed on the shooting and wasn’t impacted.
The incident comes less than a month after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in late April. Two National Guard members were also shot near the White House in late November.
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The incident occurred near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest, according to CNN, and the lockdown was lifted just after 6:45 p.m.
Secret Service members cleared the lawn and told reporters to go to the White House Briefing Room upon the shots being fired.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
