Summary
Not publicly determined. Best had prior Secret Service contacts in 2025 involving threats and a restricted-area incursion; family and friends reported a serious mental-health deterioration leading up to the incident.
Key facts
- Approximately three rounds fired at the checkpoint before return fire neutralized him
- An adult civilian bystander was wounded; one Secret Service agent was hospitalised as a precaution
- Triggered a brief White House lockdown
- Two prior 2025 Secret Service detainments — one for threats, one for entering a restricted area
- Reportedly told officers in the past that he was Jesus Christ
Perpetrator profile
- Full name
- Nasire Best
- Age at time
- 21
- Date of birth
- Not publicly reported
- Gender
- Male
- Race / ethnicity
- Not publicly reported
- Nationality
- American
- Residence
- Maryland
- Education
- Not publicly documented
- Occupation
- Not publicly documented
- Political affiliation
- Not publicly documented
- Mental health (reported)
- Significant deterioration in the year prior: had cut off contact with closest friends and began claiming to be Jesus Christ; two prior Secret Service encounters (Jun 26, 2025 — threats; Jul 10, 2025 — entered a restricted area)
- Prior criminal record
- Yes
- Acted alone
- Yes
- Online footprint
- Not publicly documented
- Family background
- Estranged from friends; Trump publicly remarked Best had a 'possible obsession' with the White House
Attempt & outcome
- Weapons & equipment
- Pistol drawn from a handbag
- Rounds fired — perpetrator
- 3
- Rounds fired — law enforcement
- —
- Distance to target
- —
- Trump present
- Yes
- Trump injured
- No
- Bystander casualties
- 0 killed · 1 injured
- Law-enforcement casualties
- 0 killed · 0 injured
- Current status
- Killed on scene
- Sentence
- —
- Preparation
- Arrived at the security checkpoint at ~18:00 carrying a handbag; pulled a pistol and opened fire on the checkpoint
Coverage timeline 14 articles
- Gunman shot dead by Secret Service agents near White House: what we know Al Jazeera
Day-after explainer naming Nasire Best and detailing prior Secret Service encounters.
- Shooter killed near WH was previously charged with trespassing Washington Post
Reports on Best's June and July 2025 Secret Service detentions and missed August hearing.
- What we know about Nasire Best, Maryland man accused of WH shooting FOX 5 DC
Profile of the 21-year-old Dundalk resident, including a Jesus Christ claim and mental-health history.
- WH gunman had prior arrests, previously claimed to be Jesus Christ Fox News
Background reporting on Best's mental-health record and prior Trump-related posts.
- Man killed in WH shooting had previous Secret Service arrest CNN
CNN deep dive on Best's history, including psychiatric commitment and prior trespass charge.
- Alleged gunman outside WH had previous run-ins with Secret Service CBS News
Court documents reveal Best's June and July 2025 incidents and stay-away order.
- Baltimore County track teammates shocked after WH gunfight CBS Baltimore
Local reactions from Dundalk High School classmates and track teammates.
- Who is Nasire Best? Alleged White House shooter was Dundalk HS grad The Baltimore Banner
Local Baltimore in-depth profile of Best's background, school history, and family.
- Secret Service kills man who opened fire at WH security checkpoint NBC News
Breaking coverage of 6 p.m. shooting at the 17th and Pennsylvania checkpoint.
- Suspect dead after opening fire near White House security checkpoint NPR
Account of the checkpoint attack, a bystander wounded, and a brief White House lockdown.
- Suspected gunman dead after exchanging fire with Secret Service near WH Washington Post
Initial Washington Post account, including a statement from the FBI Director.
- Secret Service fatally shot person who fired at them near White House CNN
CNN report; Trump was inside the White House and unharmed.
- Suspect dead, bystander wounded after exchange of gunfire near WH ABC News
ABC News on the lockdown, civilian injury, and Secret Service agent hospitalisation.
- Gunman killed after opening fire on Secret Service checkpoint outside WH CBS News
CBS live updates tracking shots fired and lockdown lifted at 6:46 p.m.