Another shooting in a month raises security concerns for Trump ahead of major events

[Financial News] Last month, a shooting targeting White House figures, including the president, took place in the United States. Now, gunfire has again been directed at the White House. The 21-year-old suspect, who was believed to have mental health issues, was killed at the scene, and U.S. President Donald Trump was reportedly working at the White House at the time.

The United States Secret Service (USSS) said in a statement on X on the 23rd, local time, that "shortly after 6 p.m., a person pulled a weapon from a bag and began firing at the intersection of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue." The USSS added that it returned fire, struck the suspect, and that he was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The USSS said one passerby was shot during the incident. It was not immediately clear whether the passerby was hit by the gunman or by return fire from USSS agents. The passerby was taken to a nearby hospital and was reported to be in critical condition. No USSS agents were injured.

The intersection where the shooting occurred is right next to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building within the White House complex, about 200 meters in a straight line from the White House main building. Fox News reported that the gunman fired three shots from a handgun toward the White House, and that USSS agents responded with return fire and subdued him. A White House official said, "A man with a gun approached near the 17th Street gate on the west side of the White House." The official added, "He then pulled out what appeared to be a handgun. I do not know what kind of handgun it was, but he fired three times toward the White House."
The official said, "The USSS returned fire. I do not know how many rounds were fired, but it appears the gunman was clearly subdued," adding, "He never made it inside the White House perimeter." Immediately after the incident, the USSS rushed reporters on the North Lawn into the White House briefing room and temporarily locked down the area around the White House. Local outlet NewsNation reported that 25 to 30 consecutive gunshots were heard during the incident. The lockdown was lifted around 6:45 p.m. that day.




According to CNN, the deceased suspect was identified as Nasir Best, a 21-year-old man from Maryland. Best had previously clashed with the USSS at least twice. He was arrested around June last year for blocking a White House driveway. At the time, he claimed to be "God" and was reportedly admitted to the Washington Psychiatric Institute for a mental evaluation. He was arrested again around July of that year for trying to enter a White House driveway and was later banned from entering the White House grounds.
Investigators said he had repeatedly posted on social media that he was the "real Osama bin Laden." He also posted at least one message suggesting that he wanted to harm Trump.
Trump had originally planned to stay in New Jersey for the Memorial Day holiday, but he canceled those plans and remained at the White House to discuss issues including negotiations with Iran. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on X that "the president is working at 8 p.m." and added, "He cannot stop, and he will not stop."
Security concerns are growing ahead of major outdoor events. On the 25th of last month, a shooting broke out at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. The attacker was said to have targeted a Trump administration official.
Although Trump was not the direct target, another shooting occurred on the 4th of this month near the Washington Monument south of the White House. The gunman was arrested after a confrontation with the Secret Service and was investigated for saying, while being taken to the hospital, "Fuck the White House."
Trump is scheduled to host an unprecedented UFC fight on the White House lawn on the 14th of next month, his 80th birthday, and watch it with thousands of spectators. In addition, large outdoor events are planned for July 4 to mark America's 250th anniversary, and Trump is also likely to attend in person.


pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter