‘He was never...’: WH shooter's mother breaks silence after seeing son’s death on social media

The mother of Nasire Best, the 21-year-old man fatally shot by Secret Service officers near the White House, expressed shock and grief after learning of her son's death through social media. Identified only as Best's mother, she told The Washington Post that authorities had not yet contacted her when she saw the news online.

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He was never violent, regardless of what people are posting.

"He was never violent, regardless of what people are posting," she stated, refuting claims about her son's character. Best was killed Saturday evening after allegedly discharging a firearm near a White House security checkpoint in Washington D.C. A bystander sustained injuries during the exchange of gunfire and is in serious but stable condition.

According to police, Best fired toward Secret Service officers, who returned fire, resulting in his death. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. President Donald Trump, who was inside the White House at the time, was unharmed, as were the officers involved. This incident marks the third security scare near the president in the past month.

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As soon as we heard it, we ducked down and I started to see other reporters starting to run, and you shortly heard Secret Service officers saying ‘get inside, get inside’.

Records indicate Best had prior encounters with law enforcement near the White House and a documented history of mental health challenges. He was arrested in July 2025 for allegedly attempting to breach White House grounds, during which he reportedly claimed to be 'Jesus Christ' and asked officers to arrest him. He subsequently spent time in a psychiatric facility. The shooting caused immediate panic, with journalists and staff seen scrambling for cover.

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Thank you to our great Secret Service and Law Enforcement for the swift and professional action taken this evening against a gunman near the White House.