A shooting incident occurred near the White House shortly after 6 p.m., as reported by the U.S. Secret Service. The event took place near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW. According to the Secret Service, a man approached a checkpoint, removed a weapon from his bag, and began firing at officers.

Incident Details

Secret Service Police returned fire, striking the suspect, who was later identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A bystander was also wounded during the exchange of gunfire, but it remains unclear whether the suspect’s or officers’ shots caused the injury. Fortunately, no Secret Service personnel were injured during the incident.

The President was inside the White House at the time, and the Secret Service confirmed that no protectees or operations were impacted by the event. The area was quickly secured, and the investigation is ongoing, with additional information to be released as it becomes available.

Background and Response

Best had previously been issued a ‘Pretrial Stay Away Order’ following an initial court hearing, and a bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear for a subsequent hearing. Reporters present on the White House grounds, including ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang, reported hearing the gunfire and taking shelter as law enforcement responded.

Authorities have not yet released a motive for the shooting. The Secret Service continues to investigate the incident, ensuring the safety and security of the White House and its surroundings.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.