An active-duty soldier wounded during a May 23 shooting near the White House remains hospitalized and is receiving ongoing treatment, his attorneys say, as local and federal investigators work to establish who fired the shots. The case raises immediate questions about civilian safety around high-security checkpoints and how law enforcement handles return fire in crowded areas.
The wounded service member has been identified by his lawyers as Benjamin Del Real, a 25-year-old private first class who has served in the U.S. Army for three years. Attorneys at Clifford Law Offices say Del Real underwent surgery after the incident and is now recuperating while receiving therapy at an undisclosed facility.
An Army spokesperson confirmed Del Real is assigned to Fort Bragg in North Carolina and was participating in training toward an enlisted special forces role at the time of the shooting. Military officials say they are focused on supporting the soldier and his family while the matter is reviewed.
Pittsburgh fireworks guide: find the best viewing sites and legal ignition zones for July 4
Delivery impersonator shoots through package at ex’s new boyfriend
The shooting began when a man approached a security checkpoint near the White House and opened fire at Secret Service officers. The gunman, identified by authorities as 21-year-old Nasire Best, was killed at the scene.
Court records show that Best had been arrested previously in July 2025 after attempting to enter another White House checkpoint without authorization. According to those records, he ignored officers’ orders, asserted that he was “Jesus Christ,” and expressed a desire to be arrested.
Local television reporting has suggested that Del Real may have been struck by rounds fired by Secret Service officers, but both the Secret Service and the Metropolitan Police Department declined to confirm those accounts. Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll has said ballistics test results are not yet available to determine who fired the bullet or bullets that wounded the bystander. Police officials have described Del Real as a visitor to the city at the time of the shooting.
- Victim: Benjamin Del Real, 25, Private First Class, active-duty Army.
- Location: Security checkpoint near the White House, May 23.
- Suspect: Nasire Best, 21, killed at the scene.
- Investigations: Metropolitan Police Internal Affairs is leading the probe and will forward findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office; Clifford Law Offices is conducting an independent review.
- Status: Del Real underwent surgery and is in recovery with ongoing therapy.
Metropolitan Police Internal Affairs is conducting the formal inquiry and will submit its findings to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a step that could lead to federal review of the use of force. Meanwhile, Del Real’s legal team says it is gathering evidence and cooperating with authorities to clarify the sequence of events and ensure a complete record.
The unresolved ballistics analysis is central to the case: if law enforcement rounds struck the bystander, it could prompt scrutiny of tactics used at heavily protected sites and potential legal claims. If the shooter’s rounds caused the injury, the focus will remain on the circumstances that allowed the attack to occur and whether prior warning signs were missed.
For now, officials and Del Real’s lawyers say they are working to assemble facts. With investigators awaiting forensic results and both criminal and administrative reviews pending, the public can expect periodic updates as new information becomes available.
