A gunman opened fire late afternoon on May 23 near a security checkpoint at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, close to the White House, striking off approximately 10 to 30 rounds, eyewitnesses said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Secret Service agents returned fire, fatally wounding the attacker while injuring one bystander; no agents were hurt [1, 2, 3, 6, 7].

Authorities identified the shooter as 21-year-old Nasire Best from Maryland. He had a documented history of mental health issues and previous run-ins with the Secret Service, including arrests near the White House in mid-2025 and a mental health evaluation following an intrusion attempt in July of that year [2, 8, 3].

President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time and was unharmed. He praised the Secret Service and law enforcement for their quick response. Trump said, "Thank you to our great Secret Service and law enforcement for their quick and professional action against the gunman near the White House tonight. The gunman has a violent past and possibly an obsession with one of our nation's most treasured buildings" [8, 3].

Trump linked the shooting to a prior attack a month earlier during the White House Correspondents' Dinner and noted this was among several assassination attempts against him since 2024 [8, 3]. "This shows how important it is to build the most secure and reliable space in Washington, D.C., for all future presidents," he added [8].

Journalists on the North Lawn were abruptly moved inside the White House briefing room for safety as the White House grounds and surrounding roads were locked down after the shooting. Senior reporter Selina Wang described hearing "dozens of shots" and being ushered inside [1, 2, 3, 9, 4, 5, 6]. The lockdown was lifted around 7 p.m. local time on the same day [4, 5, 10, 11].

The FBI arrived quickly to assist with the ongoing investigation [5, 11]. Nasire Best’s prior incidents included detainment and threat issuance near the White House in June 2025 and a July arrest for entering a restricted area [8, 3].

Authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the attack. The White House remains secured as procedures review and security assessments proceed.