The man who opened fire near the White House security perimeter on Saturday evening has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best from Maryland, according to multiple US media reports.
Best was shot and killed by Secret Service officers after he approached a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, removed a firearm from his bag and began shooting. A bystander was also injured in the exchange of gunfire. President Donald Trump was inside the White House at the time but was unharmed.
Who was Nasire Best?
Best, a 21-year-old Maryland resident, had a documented history of mental health issues and was reportedly known to the Secret Service due to multiple previous encounters with federal security personnel, according to court records and media reports.
He was first detained by Secret Service officers on June 26, 2025, after allegedly flagging down agents near the White House complex and making threats. He was involuntarily committed to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington for mental evaluation after claiming he was "God" and obstructing vehicle entry to part of the White House complex.
