New details are emerging about the gunman who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint on Saturday evening, triggering panic across the White House complex and forcing reporters, staff, and Secret Service agents into emergency lockdown procedures. Authorities have now identified the deceased shooter as 21-year-old Nasire Best, a man reportedly known to both local law enforcement and the Secret Service prior to the attack.
According to reports from the New York Post, Best had a documented history of mental illness and had previous encounters with security personnel at White House checkpoints. Sources familiar with the investigation said Best had even been issued an order in 2025 instructing him to stay away from the White House following an earlier incident involving security concerns.
Law enforcement officials reportedly told the outlet that Best referred to himself as Jesus Christ during prior interactions, raising additional concerns about his mental state leading up to Saturday’s shooting. Investigators are now combing through his digital activity, prior police contacts, and background information to determine what motivated the attack and whether warning signs were missed along the way.
🚨 BREAKING: The White House shooter has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best
"Best," which is a misleading last name, had previously attempted to INFILTRATE the White House MULTIPLE times, per USSS
He's now at the coroner's office in a bag.
Good riddance. pic.twitter.com/8J25NHoVzZ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 24, 2026
At this stage, authorities believe Best acted alone. No evidence has surfaced suggesting accomplices or a broader conspiracy connected to the shooting. Still, federal investigators are carefully reviewing his movements before the attack, how he obtained the firearm, and whether his prior contacts with authorities should have triggered stronger intervention measures.
The shooting unfolded Saturday evening as Best approached a White House security post. According to statements from the Secret Service, agents identified suspicious behavior and observed that he was armed before gunfire erupted.
ABC News correspondent Selina Wang happened to be filming a social media video on the White House North Lawn when the chaos suddenly began. Raw footage captured by Wang quickly spread online, showing the exact moment the sound of gunfire interrupted her report and sent journalists diving for cover.
“I was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the White House North Lawn when we heard the shots,” Wang later posted. “It sounded like dozens of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we are holding now.”
According to officials, Best managed to fire multiple rounds before Secret Service agents returned fire and neutralized him. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
One bystander suffered what officials described as serious injuries and was also hospitalized. Authorities have not publicly identified the victim or provided additional updates on the person’s condition.
No Secret Service agents or law enforcement officers were injured during the exchange, and President Trump remained safely inside the White House throughout the incident. The administration confirmed that the president and senior cabinet officials continued working inside the complex amid ongoing negotiations concerning the Iran conflict.
The incident is once again drawing attention to growing concerns surrounding mental illness, public safety failures, and repeated warning signs involving individuals already known to authorities. Americans are increasingly watching the same pattern unfold over and over again, troubled individuals with prior contacts, escalating behavior, and institutions somehow still caught flat-footed when things finally explode into violence.
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