White House tense as mentally unstable man opens fire

A man identified as Nasire Best, 21, opened fire near the White House in the United States (US). Best had previously been detained by the US Secret Service in July 2025. At that time, Best attempted to enter the White House and was subsequently sent to a psychiatric ward due to mental health concerns. Best was shot dead at the White House grounds after firing shots earlier on Saturday (23 May) local time. US President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House during the incident but was unharmed. US Secret Service Communications Chief Anthony Guglielmi stated the incident occurred just after 18:00 local time when a man near the White House security perimeter ‘took a weapon from his bag and began firing’. ‘Secret Service officers returned fire and struck the suspect, who was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. A civilian was also shot during the exchange,’ Guglielmi said. One civilian injured. According to AFP and CBS News on Sunday (25 May 2026), the suspect initially fired at Secret Service officers outside the White House on Saturday evening (23 May) local time. Officers then returned fire, hitting the suspect. The suspect was in critical condition upon arrival at hospital before later dying. The Secret Service confirmed one civilian was shot during the exchange. Following the armed man firing at agents at a security checkpoint near the White House, ‘Secret Service officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead,’ according to a Secret Service statement. Local authorities have not disclosed the identities of the suspect or the injured civilian. It remains unclear whether the civilian was shot by the suspect or officers, and the civilian’s condition is yet to be confirmed. No Secret Service personnel were injured. The Secret Service confirmed President Donald Trump was in the White House during the incident but was ‘unharmed’. Dozens of shots fired. Police and security forces swiftly responded to the scene, with National Guard units temporarily blocking media access to downtown Washington. ‘We heard around 20 to 25 firework-like sounds, but they were gunshots, and then everyone started running,’ Canadian tourist Reid Adrian told AFP. CBS News sources stated the suspect was in critical condition before dying, while another individual sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. The suspect is believed to have engaged in a gunfight with Secret Service agents, attempting to shoot them before being subdued. Sources estimated between 15 and 30 shots were fired during the incident. Several Secret Service officers were checked at the scene but none required hospital treatment. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street Northwest. Law enforcement officials stated uniformed Secret Service officers responded to reports of a person firing a weapon during the incident.