Alleged gunman killed in shooting near White House identified
Source: USA Today
May 23, 2026 Updated May 24, 2026, 12:21 a.m. ET
A gunman opened fire near the White House Saturday evening and was shot and killed by the U.S. Secret Service, the agency said. A bystander also was struck by gunfire, according to the Secret Service. No officers were injured. President Donald Trump was in the White House during the May 23 incident but was not impacted.
The shooting took place shortly after 6 p.m. EDT near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House complex on the west side. The gunman "pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing," according to the Secret Service statement. Officers returned fire, hitting the gunman who later was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Secret Service did not release the condition of the bystander.
The suspected gunman is 21-year-old Nasire Best, according to an official familiar with the incident. Best, of Dundalk, Maryland, was charged in DC Superior Court with attempting to unlawfully enter 1699 State Place NW, one of the entry points to the White House complex, on July 10, 2025.
The incident outside the White House Saturday sent reporters who were working nearby scrambling, and prompted a multi-agency law enforcement response. Reporters said they heard what appeared to be dozens of gunshots.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/05/23/gunshots-at-white-house-lead-to-lockdown-fbi-says-live-updates--live/90238194007/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Let's hear from the NRA too, "Now is not the time to discuss gun control blah, blah, blah...."
Reporter Julie Tsirkin looks bewildered and says, "What is that?" At the 27 sec mark.
Her reaction is going viral and inspiring memes.
TBH, maybe she thought they were jackhammering for the ballroom.....
The look on her face is priceless....
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
White House Gunfire Scare: Reporter’s Real-Time Survival Instincts Go Viral as X Floods With Memes & Reactions | WATCH
Social media users flooded X with memes, jokes, and reactions after watching Tsirkin’s rapid response during the tense moment. Several viral posts compared the scene to action movies and survival games, while others praised journalists for staying calm during the frightening situation.
“Reporters reacted faster than most people in disaster movies,” one user wrote on X. Another joked, “Julie Tsirkin unlocked survival mode instantly.”
Many users also pointed out how tense the atmosphere became outside one of the world’s most heavily guarded buildings, while others applauded the press corps for reacting quickly under pressure.
https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/white-house-gunfire-scare-reporters-real-time-survival-instincts-go-viral-as-x-floods-with-memes-reactions-watch-196155/
News Reporter's Shock Reaction to White House Shooting Incident Captured on Video in Real-Time
A reporter’s reaction to the White House shooting incident was captured on camera in real-time as she recorded a news segment.
NBC's Julie Tsirkin was reporting in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 23, when she heard several gunshots being fired in the area.
In video of the moment later posted on Tsirkin’s Instagram, she can be seen looking confused while standing on the White House grounds, as the gunshots can be heard going off in the background.
https://people.com/reporters-shock-reaction-to-white-house-shooting-incident-captured-on-video-11983030
Disclaimer: I don't know whose X accounts those are. I know the video was on NBC News FB, but FB vids won't embed here and most DU members won't click on FB links.
We had a dramatic issue with that on July 4th 2022 when a bullet from "celebratory gunfire" resulted in 2 cops being grazed by those bullets, where it was determined that the shots came from blocks away, and one bullet even ended up lodged in the hat of one cop.
Link to tweet
@SharifaJackson
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From FOP President, John McNesby: He just left hospital after spending time with injured officers. He says they are both ok and alert. He says angels were with officer grazed in head. The bullet hit his cap. He shared this pic @6abc
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11:53 PM · Jul 4, 2022
from Philadelphia, PA
2nd bullet found after officers shot at Philadelphia's July 4th celebration