Shocking new details are emerging after the deadly shooting outside the White House that sent journalists, Secret Service agents, and government staff scrambling for cover during a terrifying security incident Saturday evening.
Authorities have now identified the suspected gunman as 21-year-old Nassir Best, according to reports from MSNBC’s MS NOW.
The dramatic confrontation unfolded near a security checkpoint outside the White House complex, where witnesses reportedly heard a rapid burst of gunfire echo through the area.
According to early reports, Best allegedly pulled out a revolver and opened fire at Secret Service personnel guarding the perimeter.
The scene instantly descended into chaos.
Journalists reporting nearby were ordered to run for shelter as heavily armed Secret Service agents rushed across the White House grounds.
Videos from the area showed confusion and panic as emergency protocols locked down the presidential complex.
Now investigators are revealing increasingly bizarre details about the suspect.
According to reports, Best allegedly claimed to be Jesus Christ during the confrontation and was believed to have a documented history of mental health struggles.
MSNBC also reported that the suspect was already known to the Secret Service due to prior encounters in which he had reportedly been taken into custody before.
The gunfight ended after Secret Service agents returned fire.
Best was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Authorities also confirmed that at least one bystander was struck during the exchange of gunfire, though additional details about the victim’s condition have not yet been fully released.
The White House was immediately placed under lockdown following the shooting.
National Guard personnel and heavily armed federal agents were later seen securing the area as investigators combed through the scene.
At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House after spending the day holding meetings related to escalating tensions involving Iran and Middle East diplomacy.
The shooting instantly triggered intense speculation online, especially given the already heightened political atmosphere surrounding national security fears, war concerns, and growing public anxiety in Washington.
Authorities have not yet released a full timeline explaining how the suspect approached the White House perimeter armed or whether he specifically targeted law enforcement or government personnel.
The Secret Service is expected to continue investigating Best’s background, mental health history, prior interactions with authorities, and possible motives.
The incident now joins a growing list of alarming security scares surrounding the White House and federal institutions in recent years.
For many Americans watching the footage unfold online, the most unsettling aspect may be how quickly ordinary reporting outside the White House transformed into a life-threatening active gunfire situation.
And as more information continues emerging, questions are rapidly growing about how such a dangerous confrontation unfolded just steps away from the most heavily protected building in the United States.