White House Shooting Aftermath
Active-Duty Soldier Wounded in White House Shooting Undergoing Treatment, Retains Lawyer
An active-duty U.S. Army soldier wounded near the White House last month is still recovering from serious injuries — and has hired a lawyer. Private First Class Benjamin Del Real, 25, was struck in the abdomen on May 23 when Secret Service officers returned fire at a gunman near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, according to AP News. The gunman, 21-year-old Nasire Best, was killed. Del Real underwent surgery and is now receiving therapy at an undisclosed location.
Del Real's attorney, Joseph Murphy of Clifford Law Offices and a former Army captain, confirmed his client's identity and military status. Murphy said his team is "investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and gathering all available facts," according to WSLS. A key question remains unanswered: whether the bullet that hit Del Real came from Best's gun — or from a Secret Service officer.
Soldier Was a Tourist When Gunfire Erupted
Del Real had been visiting Washington, D.C., as a tourist when the shooting broke out around 6:00 PM. Best pulled a revolver from a messenger bag and opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint. Officers returned fire in what sources described as a "sustained volley" of 15 to 30 shots, according to Click On Detroit. The White House was placed on lockdown within minutes. President Trump was inside at the time and later praised the Secret Service's "swift and professional action."
Best was shot and later pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital. Del Real was admitted in serious condition. Secret Service Director Sean Curran said the agency's "thoughts are also with the innocent bystander who was wounded" and expressed hope he would make a full recovery, according to AP News. Del Real has now served three years in the Army.
Gunman Had Active Warrant for Ten Months Before Shooting
Nasire Best had a long history with law enforcement before May 23. In July 2025, he tried to enter a White House checkpoint without permission and told agents he was "Jesus Christ." He was arrested and charged with unlawful entry. Then in August 2025, a no-bond bench warrant was issued after Best skipped a court hearing, according to KXAN. He remained at large for roughly ten months before the shooting.
Best, from Dundalk, Maryland, was a former high school track star. Friends said his mental health declined sharply after his senior year in 2023. He reportedly spent 18 months in a psychiatric facility at some point before the 2025 incidents. His case has raised hard questions about why someone with an active warrant and a known history of White House confrontations was not detained sooner.
Ballistics Test Will Decide Who Fired the Wounding Shot
Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said ballistics results are still pending. Those results will determine whether Del Real was hit by Best's bullet or by a Secret Service round. If the Secret Service fired the shot, the U.S. government could face a major lawsuit under the Federal Tort Claims Act — a law that allows people to sue the federal government for negligence, according to Seattle Times.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs division is leading the investigation. It will hand its findings to the U.S. Attorney's Office when complete, according to 11Alive. Murphy's legal background — he is a former Army captain — adds weight to the case. Del Real's status as an active-duty soldier also raises complex questions about his military benefits and medical coverage during what could be a long recovery.
Shooting Adds Pressure on White House Security Plans
The May 23 incident was the third shooting near the President in roughly 30 days, according to News4Jax. The pattern has intensified debate over pedestrian access along Pennsylvania Avenue. President Trump has pointed to the shooting as proof that the White House complex needs major upgrades. He called for building "the most safe and secure space of its kind ever built."
Security experts say the Secret Service's "return fire" tactics in high-traffic tourist zones like Pennsylvania Avenue are now under internal review. Restricting access to the 17th Street corridor is one option being discussed — a move that would affect thousands of tourists and commuters daily. For now, Del Real remains the most visible reminder of the real human cost of that crowded, chaotic evening.
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