A senior administration official familiar with the incident said Best allegedly fired roughly three shots in the direction of the executive mansion before Secret Service agents returned fire and fatally shot him.
Chilling video from the incident has emerged:
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Officials also said the suspect allegedly had previous interactions with the Secret Service and a documented history of mental health issues, Fox News reported
Witnesses reported hearing as many as 30 gunshots near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building during the confrontation.
Officials said the suspect never breached the outer security perimeter surrounding the White House grounds.
He was reportedly detained again on July 10, 2025, for entering a restricted area.
An adult bystander was struck by gunfire during the exchange, though officials had not released information about the person’s condition, according to a senior administration official familiar with the incident
All Secret Service personnel involved in the incident were reported safe, though one uniformed officer was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, Fox added.
President Donald Trump commended the response to the shooting near the White House in a Truth Social post early Sunday.
“The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates,” the president added.
According to information obtained by Fox News, Nasire Best had previously been detained by the United States Secret Service on June 26, 2025, after allegedly flagging down agents and making threats
Trump stated that the shooting highlighted the necessity for enhanced security measures around the White House.
“The National Security of our Country demands it!”
FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were dispatched to the scene and “supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds.”
“Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure,” he wrote
During the incident, Secret Service agents were heard warning reporters to “get down” before members of the press corps were rushed into the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room inside the West Wing.
Agents were also seen across the White House grounds with weapons drawn as security teams moved to secure the area.
The Secret Service confirmed that the president had remained inside the White House during the incident but was not harmed or directly affected by the gunfire.
