White House Shooting Incident Leaves Suspect Dead

The United States Secret Service reported a shooting at a security post near the White House, resulting in the death of the shooter after agents returned fire. This marks the third shooting incident near President Donald Trump in the past month.

According to a preliminary statement by the Secret Service, an individual in the area of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue drew a weapon from a bag and began shooting shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Secret Service agents responded by firing back, injuring the suspect, who was then taken to a hospital where he later died.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, reportedly succumbed to his injuries. This incident follows two other shooting events, one at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and another near the Washington Monument earlier in May.

A bystander was also injured during the events on Saturday; however, it remains unclear whether the injury resulted from shots fired by the suspect or the agents. The Secret Service confirmed that no agents were hurt and that President Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was not affected.

Journalists on site reported hearing gunfire and were instructed to take cover in the press briefing room. Evidence of the shooting was visible on the sidewalk outside the White House complex, where crime scene tape and numerous evidence markers were displayed. Medical gear such as purple surgical gloves and emergency kits were also found at the scene.

ABC News’ White House correspondent, Selina Wang, shared a video on social media, describing the moment she heard what sounded like dozens of gunshots. She was filming a routine report when the shooting began, causing her to duck for cover. Her video has since garnered millions of views.

The Metropolitan Police Department, through its social media account, announced that the Secret Service was managing the scene and advised the public to avoid the area. The location is near where two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed last November. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed, while Andrew Wolfe was seriously wounded. Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged in connection with that incident.

This shooting comes nearly a month after an alleged assassination attempt on President Trump on April 25, which occurred during the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in a Washington hotel. Cole Tomas Allen, from California, was charged in the attempt and remains in federal custody.

In a separate incident soon after, Secret Service agents fired on a suspect near the Washington Monument after the individual allegedly shot at them. Michael Marx from Texas was charged in the May 4 shooting that also resulted in injuries to a teenage bystander.

This article included input from AP photojournalists Jose Luis Magana and Alex Brandon, and journalists Gary Fields, Meg Kinnard, and Matthew Daly.