Need to know
Nasire Best was shot dead by Secret Service agents after opening fire outside the White House. President Donald Trump said the 21-year-old ‘had a violent history’ and a possible obsession with the White House
White House shooter believed he was Jesus – Need to Know
- A 21-year-old gunman who believed he was Jesus Christ was shot dead by Secret Service agents after opening fire outside the White House on Saturday evening.
- Nasire Best unleashed a barrage of bullets near the White House gates while President Donald Trump was inside the building. The White House was instantly put into lockdown, though Trump remained unharmed.
- Following the mayhem, Trump posted on Truth Social claiming that Best “had a violent history and possible obsession with our Country’s most cherished structure.” He praised the Secret Service for their “swift and professional action” against the gunman.
- An adult civilian sustained injuries during the shooting, though authorities were uncertain whether they were wounded by the suspect or caught in crossfire. Reporters stationed at the White House reported hearing up to 30 shots which sent them diving for cover.
- It has now emerged that Best had previously been flagged by the Secret Service and had breached an earlier court directive ordering him to keep away from the White House premises. He was apprehended twice in recent months for attempting to approach agents and entering restricted zones.
- During a June incident, Best obstructed an entry lane at the White House and declared he was ‘God’ before being sent to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington for a mental assessment.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Donald Trump reveals White House shooter who ‘thought he was Jesus’ had ‘violent history’
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.