Witnesses who were dining near the White House on Saturday evening described terrifying moments after gunfire erupted near a security checkpoint in Washington, D.C.

“I was scared for my life. I thought I was going to die. I had accepted my death,” said witness Shoshana Greenberg.

Greenberg was visiting the nation’s capital for Memorial Day weekend on a school field trip with 17 classmates and staff members when Secret Service officials said a gunman opened fire on officers shortly after 6 p.m. near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

As shots rang out, people inside a nearby restaurant rushed for cover.

“My friends started hiding under the tables at the restaurant,” Greenberg said. “I ran directly to the back of the kitchen and held the door shut with my hand while dialing 911 with my other hand.”

Greenberg said the fear inside the restaurant was overwhelming.

“The door did not have a lock. I was holding it shut with my hand,” she said. “I was sobbing, shaking in the kitchen. I did not want to die. I was being held in my friend’s arms. I was being held later in the restaurant by an immigrant’s arms who did not speak English. We were all very scared and it did not matter that we didn’t know each other. We were helping each other out.”

Six senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter identified the suspect as 21-year-old Nasire Best, who was shot and later died at a hospital. A bystander was also shot and injured.

Greenberg and her classmates said they were less than 200 feet from the shooting and about a block from White House grounds.

Classmate Meghan Rossol recorded video inside the restaurant as customers and staff hid in the kitchen.

“I am still in complete shock that it happened,” Rossol said. “Part of me is shocked and part of me is in denial that I was so close to having my life taken.”

Rossol said the situation escalated in seconds.

“We had just gone from talking and joking at the dinner table to crying and having anxiety in the back of a kitchen while shots are fired,” she said.

Greenberg, the daughter of NBC10 Jersey Shore reporter Ted Greenberg, said she wanted to speak publicly about the experience because of the broader impact of gun violence.

“I wanted to tell people that this is not okay,” Greenberg said. “There are many innocent people who were scared for their lives. There’s an innocent person who lost his life. This is not okay. We need to stop violence and gun violence in this country.”

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.

WASHINGTON (7News) — Drivers should expect road closures, parking restrictions, and possible delays on Monday as the Freedom 250 National Memorial Day Parade takes place in downtown D.C.

The parade is set for May 25 and will bring several street closures around Constitution Avenue, the National Mall, and nearby downtown corridors.

Police officials said all listed closures and times are subject to change based on conditions.

Emergency no-parking begins early Monday

Several streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m., including portions of:

• 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 14th and 15th streets
• Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 23rd Street NW
• Madison Drive from 3rd Street to 14th Street NW
• Jefferson Drive from 3rd Street to 14th Street SW
• Independence Avenue from 4th Street to 12th Street SW

Additional emergency no-parking restrictions will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on parts of Virginia Avenue and 18th, 19th, and 20th streets NW.

Vehicles parked in restricted areas may be ticketed or towed.

SEE ALSO | Memorial Day 2026: What’s open and closed across the DMV

Streets closed from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The following areas will be closed to vehicle traffic from 4 a.m. to 1 p.m.:

• 4th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 6th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• 7th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 9th and 10th streets from Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• 12th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue to Madison Drive NW
• 14th Street from Pennsylvania Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 12th Street Tunnel/Expressway
• Constitution Avenue from Pennsylvania Avenue to 15th Street NW
• Madison Drive from 3rd Street to 14th Street NW
• Jefferson Drive from 3rd Street to 14th Street SW

More closures begin at 8 a.m.

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., additional closures will include:

• Constitution Avenue from 15th Street to 23rd Street NW
• Inbound I-395 from the 14th Street Bridge
• Inbound I-395 HOV from the 14th Street Bridge
• 17th Street from New York Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• 18th and 19th streets from E Street to Constitution Avenue NW
• Virginia Avenue NW from 24th Street to Constitution Avenue NW

Traffic from inbound I-395 will be directed eastbound onto the I-395 Southwest Freeway.

The Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Department of Transportation are urging drivers to use caution and consider different routes because of increased pedestrian traffic and expected delays.

Traffic updates will be posted by MPD’s traffic account on X.