Washington, 24 May (H.S.):

A shooting outside the White House late Saturday evening sent shockwaves through the area. At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House engaged in discussions about an Iran agreement.

Following the shooting, Secret Service agents secured the perimeter and temporarily locked down the White House. Concerned about a possible threat, members of the press who cover the White House were ordered into the briefing room. Two people were wounded in the incident, and officials said one wounded suspect later died from his injuries after being shot by Secret Service agents.

According to reports from CBS News, ABC News and CNN, Secret Service checkpoint officers outside the White House said the wounded suspect was transported to a hospital, where he died. A passerby was also injured in the shooting. No Secret Service agents were reported injured. A Secret Service spokesman confirmed the President was at the White House at the time of the incident.

Investigators identified the deceased suspect as 21-year-old Nasir Best. Best had an earlier encounter with the Secret Service in July 2025 when he attempted to breach the White House; he was arrested and committed to a psychiatric ward. The shooting occurred near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just outside the White House. Authorities said approximately 15 to 30 shots were fired. Reporters on site said they heard what sounded like gunfire from the West Wing at about 6 p.m. Eastern. Secret Service agents then escorted them inside. The White House remained on lockdown for roughly an hour.

White House spokesman Steven Cheung initially said the President was at the White House as of 4 p.m. Several officials later confirmed that Mr. Trump remained at his residence during the incident. Reporter Emma Nicholson, who was on the grounds, said they were preparing to record when they heard multiple gunshots near the White House. She immediately dropped to the ground and was escorted inside. About an hour later, the media were permitted to return to the North Lawn.

Sources said the suspects targeted Secret Service agents but failed to hit them. The agents returned fire. A Secret Service spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said the agency thwarted the suspects’ apparent plan. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that bureau agents responded immediately upon receiving notification.

The Secret Service and the FBI said that after what sounded like gunfire Saturday evening, the White House North Lawn was cleared and all press were taken to the briefing room.

Correspondent Selina Wang described how reporters immediately hid and then ran to the press briefing room once the shooting stopped.

The incident occurred less than a month after gunfire erupted during a White House Correspondents’ Dinner event, when journalists and officials again had to shelter under tables. During that earlier incident, Secret Service agents immediately moved the President to a secure location.

Video footage from that event showed a suspect, identified as Cole Thomas Allen, running from a security checkpoint carrying a shotgun and firing at pursuing Secret Service agents; he was accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump at the Washington Hilton during the Correspondents’ Dinner.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar