WASHINGTON — The Secret Service said its officers shot and killed an armed man after he opened fire at a White House security checkpoint on Saturday evening.

Authorities also confirmed that a bystander was struck by gunfire during the incident, though it remains unclear how the person was hit, according to the agency.

The suspect was identified by Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department as 21-year-old Nasire Best of Dundalk, Maryland.

According to the Secret Service, Best approached a checkpoint near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW around 6 p.m., pulled a firearm from a bag, and began shooting at officers stationed at the scene.

Secret Service personnel returned fire, striking the suspect. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Officials said it has not yet been determined whether the bystander was struck by the suspect’s initial shots or during the exchange of gunfire.

No Secret Service agents were injured, and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

President Donald Trump praised law enforcement’s response in a social media post, thanking the Secret Service and other agencies for their “swift and professional action” against the gunman. He also described the suspect as having a “violent history” and a possible fixation on the White House.

Trump further emphasized the need for heightened security measures around federal landmarks, calling for stronger protections in Washington, D.C.

Officials also noted that Best was previously known to the Secret Service. Court records show he had been issued a stay-away order from the White House in July 2025 after a prior arrest tied to an earlier attempt to breach security near the complex. During that incident, he allegedly told officers he was “Jesus Christ” and expressed a desire to be arrested.