Secret Service Kills Gunman Near White House Checkpoint as Trump Remains Unharmed
A gunman was killed Saturday evening after opening fire near a White House security checkpoint, triggering a Secret Service response while President Donald Trump was inside the White House.
The shooting happened shortly after 6 p.m. near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. According to the Secret Service, the suspect approached the checkpoint, removed a weapon from a bag and began firing at posted officers. Secret Service police returned fire, striking the suspect, who was taken to a hospital and later died.
A bystander was also hit by gunfire. Authorities said it was not immediately clear whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial shots or during the exchange of fire. No Secret Service personnel were injured, and Trump was not impacted.
The incident quickly became a national security story and a social media story. Reporters on the White House grounds heard the gunfire and were moved to shelter. Video from ABC’s Selina Wang showed the frightening moment shots rang out near the complex, while online commentary also focused on NBC reporter Julie Tsirkin’s live reaction to the gunfire.
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AP reported that the suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best and had a prior encounter with authorities involving an attempted entry near the White House. Trump later suggested the suspect may have had an obsession with the executive mansion, while Best’s mother expressed disbelief and said he did not have a known history of violence.
The practical consequence is immediate: another shooting near the White House adds pressure on federal protective agencies to explain what happened, how the bystander was struck, and whether any security procedures need to change.
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