From Newsgroup: alt.law-enforcement

Secret Service officers shot and killed a person who the agency said
approached a security checkpoint Saturday near the White House and fired
at them.

Shortly before 6 p.m. ET, an individual approached a checkpoint just
outside the White House complex and began firing at officers, a Secret
Service spokesperson said, citing a preliminary investigation.

Secret Service officers returned fire and hit the suspect, who later
died at an area hospital, the spokesperson said.

rCLDuring the shooting, a bystander was also struck by gunfire. It remains unclear whether the bystander was struck by the suspectrCOs initial
gunfire or during the subsequent exchange of gunfire,rCY the spokesperson added.

Secret Service personnel were not injured, and President Donald Trump
was in the residence and unaffected, the spokerson said. HerCOs been
briefed on the incident by the Secret Service, a White House official
said.

The bystander is in critical condition, according to a law enforcement official.

The incident comes less than a month after the White House
CorrespondentsrCO Dinner, where reporters and Trump administration
officials ducked for cover as shots rang out.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social early Sunday, thanked Secret Service
and law enforcement officials for swiftly responding to the threat.

The incident rCLgoes to show how important it is, for all future
Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its
kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it!rCY he added.

The suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, three
sources told CNN. Best had previous encounters with the Secret Service,
one law enforcement source said, including an incident in June 2025 in
which he blocked an entry lane at the White House. After claiming he was rCLGod,rCY he was detained by the Secret Service and committed to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington for mental evaluation, the source
said.

The following month, in July 2025, the Secret Service arrested Best
again after he attempted to enter a White House complex driveway, the
source said. A judge issued an order demanding he stay away from the
White House grounds.

While investigating the encounters last year, investigators discovered
Best had made various statements on social media, including claiming he
was rCLthe realrCY Osama bin Laden, and at least one post indicating his
desire to harm Trump, the source said.

But police had never encountered the suspect behaving violently or
wielding a weapon before, according to a law enforcement source.

Gunshots trigger rapid security response
CNN reporters heard what appeared to be dozens of gunshots near the
White House shortly after 6 p.m. ET, triggering a roughly 40-minute
lockdown for the press on the grounds and a rapid response from the
Secret Service.

The sounds of gunfire broke out nearly an hour after a press lid had
been called at 5:06 p.m. rCo a signal that reporters were not expecting to
see Trump again for the remainder of the day. By that point, many
journalists and White House press staff had already departed the
complex.

Members of the press corps on the North Lawn were rushed into the White
House briefing room, where they were told to shelter in place as Secret
Service agents shouted rCLget downrCY and warned of rCLshots fired.rCY CNN counted roughly two dozen journalists sheltering inside the briefing
room during the lockdown, including photographers, producers,
photojournalists and correspondents.

Secret Service agents carrying rifles could be seen moving through the
North Lawn area following the incident and blocking the White House
press briefing room. The lockdown was lifted just after 6:45 p.m. ET.

The incident unfolded after several top administration officials,
including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary
Scott Bessent and Vice President JD Vance, were captured by CNN cameras
leaving the White House grounds.

Trump remained in Washington this weekend after canceling a planned trip
to his golf club in New Jersey.

CNN has reached out to the White House, DC Metropolitan Police, and the
DC Fire and EMS Department for comment. FBI Director Kash Patel said on
X that the agency was on the scene and supporting Secret Service.

Selina Wang, ABC NewsrCO chief White House correspondent, posted a video
on X showing the moment the apparent shots rang out and she ducked for
cover.

rCLI was in the middle of taping on my iPhone for a social video from the
White House North Lawn when we heard the shots. It sounded like dozens
of gunshots. We were told to sprint to the press briefing room where we
are holding now,rCY she posted.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/23/politics/white-house-area-gunshots

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