Chicago – May 24, 2026
A 21-year-old man was shot and killed by U.S. Secret Service officers after opening fire on a security checkpoint near the White House Saturday evening, leaving an unidentified bystander in serious condition.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 p.m. EDT near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, when the suspect, identified as Nasire Best of Dundalk, Maryland, pulled a firearm from his bag and began shooting at officers. Secret Service agents immediately returned fire, striking Best, who was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead.
No Secret Service officers were injured, but a bystander was struck by gunfire during the exchange. The unidentified victim remained in serious but stable condition Sunday, with the Secret Service describing the gunshot wound as not life-threatening. It remains unclear whether the bystander was hit by the suspect’s or officers’ gunfire.
Best had a documented history of mental health concerns and previously attempted to enter the White House last July, resulting in arrest and psychiatric hospitalization. President Donald Trump was inside the White House during the shooting, which briefly triggered a lockdown.
