The gunman who opened fire at a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint near the White House on Saturday evening has been identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best, according to law enforcement officials.

Best died after Secret Service officers returned fire. President Trump was inside the White House at the time but was not impacted.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau was on the ground almost immediately.

The incident occurred around 6 p.m. Eastern near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, where a male suspect brandished a pistol and fired roughly three shots toward the White House.

Law enforcement sources state that the first shots took place around 6 p.m. Eastern near the White House security perimeter. A suspect armed with a pistol reportedly fired three shots before U.S. Secret Service personnel returned fire and struck him.

A lockdown was lifted around 7:30 p.m. Eastern after the immediate threat was contained. Reports indicate that a nearby civilian was also shot during the exchange, the suspect was pronounced dead, and no Secret Service personnel were injured.

The key detail is that President Trump was inside the executive mansion while the incident unfolded, but officials confirmed he was not impacted. The suspect never breached the White House grounds.

Law enforcement reports describe a heavy response around the complex after the shooting. The scene shifted quickly from an initial lockdown to a controlled federal response in the checkpoint area.

The Secret Service released a preliminary statement shortly after the lockdown ended.

Reporters on the North Lawn described the moment the shots rang out.

The suspect’s identity was confirmed by law enforcement officials. Court records show Best was arrested in July 2025 after attempting to enter a White House checkpoint without authorization, refusing commands to stop, claiming he was Jesus Christ, and stating he wanted to be arrested.

Following that incident, a pretrial stay-away order was issued. A bench warrant followed in August after Best failed to appear for a hearing.

This marks the third gunfire episode near President Trump in roughly a month. Previous incidents occurred at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in April and near the Washington Monument on May 4.

No official motive has been released. The investigation is ongoing, with the FBI and Secret Service leading the response.

Secret Service agents at the checkpoint executed their training by neutralizing the threat and keeping the President safe.

The question remains: how did a 21-year-old with an existing bench warrant and documented history of erratic behavior at White House checkpoints manage to approach with a loaded weapon?