White House shooting: One person dead and another injured

The suspect open fired on a checkpoint

The incident took place on Saturday evening with the suspected gunman open firing at a US Secret Service (USSS) checkpoint.

The suspect, believed to be a 21-year-old Maryland resident with a history of mental health issues, was fatally shot in the exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.

Six senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter identified the suspect as Nasire Best to NBC News.

Shot were fired at a White House checkpoint. Getty.

One bystander was injured in the incident.

The Secret Service said a man approached a White House security checkpoint shortly after 6pm local time (11pm BST).

"Secret Service Police returned fire striking the suspect who was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased," said Anthony Guglielmi, USSS chief of communications.

"During the shooting, one bystander was also struck by gunfire," he added.

US President Donald Trump acknowledged the incident on Truth Social, thanking officers involved for their "swift and professional action" against the gunman

He wrote: "Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House, who had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.

"The gunman is dead after an exchange of gunfire with Secret Service Agents near the White House gates.

"This event is one month removed from the White House Correspondent’s Dinner shooting, and goes to show how important it is, for all future Presidents, to get, what will be, the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built in Washington, D.C. The National Security of our Country demands it!"

The latest incident

It is not confirmed whether the suspect was targeting Donald Trump, but this would not be the first time even in the last month that a building where the president had been located had been targeted by a gunman.

In April, a similar incident happened when a gunman attempted to infiltrate the White House Correspondent's Dinner, ultimately being stopped by security.

This follows a precedent of attempts on Trump and his entourage, notably with the infamous incident in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024.