A 21-year-old who fired a weapon outside the White House on Saturday and was subsequently shot by federal agents had already drawn scrutiny from the Secret Service months before the incident, according to court documents filed in DC Superior Court.
The suspect, identified as Nasire Best, approached a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW shortly after 6pm on Saturday. He removed a pistol from a bag and opened fire. Secret Service officers returned fire, striking him. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.
A bystander was also struck during the exchange of gunfire, though it remains unclear whether the shot came from Best or from returning fire by law enforcement. No agents were injured in the incident.
Court filings reveal that Best had targeted the White House complex on multiple occasions the previous summer. According to a July 2025 court document, he was "known to the Secret Service" for "walking around the White House complex inquiring how to gain access at various entry points." On June 26, 2025, he was involuntarily committed for obstructing vehicle entry to a portion of the complex. Two weeks later, on July 10, he was arrested for unlawful entry after ignoring warning signs and crossing into a restricted area.
During that July arrest, Best claimed to be Jesus and told officers that "he wanted to get arrested," the court filing states. A judge issued a stay-away order barring him from the White House area. The New York Post later reported that a bench warrant was issued after Best failed to appear at a subsequent court hearing.
An unnamed law enforcement official described Best to the Washington Post as an emotionally disturbed person with a history of contact with authorities. The FBI is now assisting the Secret Service and local police in investigating the shooting.
President Trump was inside the White House during the incident. On social media, he characterized the gunman as having "a violent history" and a "possible obsession" with the White House, while praising what he called the "swift and professional action" of law enforcement.
Author James Rodriguez: "The fact that Secret Service had documented prior intrusions and erratic behavior makes this a serious question about what protocols were supposed to trigger intervention after a bench warrant was issued."
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