Reporters at the scene of the shooting had to dive for cover, ITV News’ David Harper reports
A man who opened fire near a White House security checkpoint has been shot dead by officers, the US Secret Service said.
The man was near Pennsylvania Avenue when he “pulled a weapon from his bag” and opened fire shortly after 6pm US local time on Saturday, 11pm BST, the law enforcement agency said in a statement on X.
Officers returned fire, and the suspect was taken to the hospital, where he died.
The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, according to a law enforcement official.
Court records show Best was arrested in July 2025 after attempting to enter a White House checkpoint without authorisation, ignoring officers’ commands to stop and claiming he was Jesus Christ.
A court order was issued banning him from the area before trial, but a warrant was issued in August after he reportedly failed to comply.
This is the third time in the past month that shots have been fired near President Donald Trump, after incidents at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and near the Washington Monument earlier in May.
A bystander was also struck on Saturday, though police are unclear whether they were hit by the suspect’s bullets or those fired by officers.
The Secret Service said none of its officers was injured and that Trump, who was at the White House at the time, was not “impacted”.
Trump originally planned to spend the weekend at his New Jersey golf club, but changed his plans on Friday and stayed at the White House.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media that agency personnel were on the scene and “we will update the public as we’re able.”
Yellow crime scene tape and dozens of orange evidence markers could be seen on the pavement just outside the White House complex, along with medical equipment, including what appeared to be surgical gloves and emergency medical kits.
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