May 2026 White House shooting
2026 shooting in Washington, D.C.
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On May 23, 2026, 21-year-old Nasire Best opened fire on a security booth outside the White House complex in Washington, D.C., before being fatally shot by the United States Secret Service. A male bystander was also injured.[3]
Washington, D.C., U.S.
| May 2026 White House shooting | |
|---|---|
| Location | White House Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Date | May 23, 2026 c. 6:00 p.m.[1] (EDT; UTC-04:00) |
Attack type | Shooting |
| Weapon | Revolver[2] |
| Deaths | 1 (the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrator | Nasire Best |
| Motive | Under investigation |
Shooting
| Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) tweeted: |
I 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.
May 23, 2026[4]
Just after 6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-04:00),[1] an African American man, later identified as Nasire Best, walked up to a Secret Service security checkpoint, pulled out a weapon from a bag and fired at officers.[5] Officers returned fire and shot the suspect, critically injuring him. He was transported to George Washington University Hospital where he later died. A 41-year-old male bystander was also struck by gunfire.[6][7] The sounds of the shots were caught on video by various White House correspondents, including Selina Wang from ABC News, Julie Tsirkin from NBC News, and Aaron Navarro from CBS News.[8] A lockdown was placed on the White House, which contained reporters and journalists, and was lifted following Best's death announcement.[9]
Perpetrator
The perpetrator, 21-year-old[10] Nasire Best (2005 – May 23, 2026), a Glenarden, Maryland resident[11] who previously resided in Dundalk, was taken to George Washington University Hospital following the shooting. He died shortly after being admitted.[12][13] Reuters reported that a law enforcement official said the perpetrator had been identified[by whom?] as an emotionally disturbed person, adding that a "stay-away order" had been issued to him previously.[14] Best attended Dundalk High School where he was part of the track and field team until graduating in 2023,[15] which Baltimore County court records confirmed that he faced multiple legal challenges afterward.[16] In December 2024, Best moved from his Foundry By The Park apartment in Dundalk to Glenarden after being evicted by his landlord for not paying multiple rents in three cases.[17]
According to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, Best lived in the Washington metropolitan area for years prior to the shooting and had a documented history with D.C.-area law enforcement, including D.C. police. The New York Times reported that Best had been placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold a year earlier because he had blocked a vehicle from entering the White House and then claimed to be Jesus Christ upon arrest.[13] He was arrested a month later for ignoring commands to keep out of restricted areas of the White House grounds, attempting to bypass a pedestrian checkpoint and enter through an exit turnstile.[13][18] Five senior law enforcement officials characterized his behavior as mental health issues.[19] CNN reported that social media posts ostensibly belonging to Best reiterated his claim to Christhood, and also appeared to threaten violence against Donald Trump.[20]
Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation director Kash Patel reported that its agents are assisting the Secret Service.[21] The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed they are investigating.[22]
Reactions
In a Truth Social post hours after the shooting, President Trump thanked Secret Service and law enforcement personnel for their response and said the incident underscored the need for a White House State Ballroom.[23] The Hill noted that Trump's recent demand for $1 billion in public funding for the ballroom had stalled in Congress.[23]
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson both praised the performance of the Secret Service.[24]
Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett noted that "These incidents are happening with increasing frequency", with the shooting coming only one month after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting.[25] Analysis by NBC News was similar.[26]
A Dundalk resident who knew Best spoke to Baltimore's NBC affiliate WBAL-TV after reflecting on the incident. He spoke to WBAL that it was "heartbreaking to know a 21-year-old that he just got out of school," adding that "everything goes downhill just by one little incident after school. Nine times out of 10, most problems that go on, there's always a mentally unstable person that could have got help before the problems got that far or anything like that, but it's just like they got neglected."[16]