A crazed gunman who believed he was Jesus Christ pulled out a revolver and opened fire outside the White House Saturday night, before he was quickly taken down by a barrage of shots from the Secret Service, sources said.
Incident Details
Nasire Best, 21, fired at a checkpoint at about 6:10 p.m. after being seen pacing in a strange manner up and down 17th St. Northwest, sources told The Post.
He only got off a few shots before he was shot and killed in a hail of bullets from federal officers.
At least one bystander was hit and seriously wounded in the fusillade, the sources said.
Investigation and Response
While a motive for the attack hasn’t been confirmed, sources said Best is a mentally troubled individual who was well-known to the Secret Service for repeatedly loitering around various entry posts and who has violated a previous court order to stay away from the White House.
Aftermath and Reactions
“FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds – we will update the public as we’re able,” FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R–LA) expressed gratitude for the “brave Secret Service agents who took quick, decisive action to protect President Trump, and our prayers are with victims of tonight’s senseless shooting for a speedy recovery.”
Echoing Mike Johnson, Rep. Cory Mills (R–FL) said that “there is no place in America for political violence, and every leader should be condemning it unequivocally.”
Condemnations and Calls for Unity
Rep. Betty Column (D–MN) strongly condemned the shooting and pushed for the public to “unite behind a common belief that our differences should be resolved at the ballot box.”
