Shooting Near White House: Details Emerge on Suspected Gunman
In a weekend incident that has drawn national attention, law enforcement officials have disclosed more details about a shooting that occurred close to the White House. Authorities have identified the alleged gunman in the incident.
According to NPR’s Chandelis Duster, gunfire erupted as White House journalists, including ABC’s Selina Wang, were preparing for evening broadcasts on Saturday. Leila Fadel, host: “We’re learning more about a shooting near the White House. The gunmen who opened fire was killed, and a bystander was wounded over the weekend.”
The chaotic scene unfolded as reporters scrambled for safety. Wang, in the middle of a live report, was interrupted by the sound of gunshots. She, along with other journalists, sought refuge in the White House briefing room after receiving instructions from the United States Secret Service to shelter in place. President Trump was inside the White House when the incident occurred.
The Secret Service reported that the shooting began when an individual, later identified as 21-year-old Nasire Best of Maryland, “pulled a weapon from his bag and began firing” around a block from the White House shortly after 6 p.m. In response, the Secret Service returned fire, hitting the gunman, who was subsequently declared dead at a hospital.
A Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson confirmed that a bystander was injured in the exchange of gunfire, sustaining a non-life-threatening wound and remaining hospitalized. Fortunately, no Secret Service personnel were harmed during the event.
Records from D.C. courts indicate that Best had a previous encounter with law enforcement last summer when he attempted to access White House grounds through a checkpoint, ignoring commands to halt. During that incident, Best reportedly claimed to be Jesus Christ and expressed a desire to be arrested. He was already known to the Secret Service for loitering around the White House perimeter and inquiring about checkpoint access.
The shooting incident happened almost a month after another alleged attempt on a high-profile event, the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.
Following the incident, President Trump expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their “swift and professional action” in a social media post. He also highlighted the necessity of a White House ballroom, describing it as a “safe and secure space.”
For further information, visit NPR’s original report here.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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