Full Breakdown
Soldier Wounded Near White House Files Federal Claim Against Secret Service
7/22/2026, 2:14:02 AM
Core Event
On May 23 2026, Private First Class Benjamin Del Real Jr., a 25-year-old active-duty soldier from Kansas, was walking with his sister Sara and their father near the White House when 21-year-old Nasire Best opened fire at a Secret Service checkpoint. Agents returned fire, killing Best. In the exchange, Del Real was hit in the abdomen and required emergency surgery, removal of portions of his colon and small intestine, and a third operation scheduled for next month. He and his family filed a personal-injury claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act, seeking $25 million in damages.
Background & Context
Federal law-enforcement agencies enjoy broad immunity, but the Federal Tort Claims Act allows suits for employee negligence. Attorneys for Del Real argue the Secret Service’s response was negligent, noting that bystanders were only about 20 yards from the shooter and that a “hail of gunfire” struck an innocent civilian.
Timeline
- May 23, 2026 – Shooting outside the White House; Del Real wounded.
- May 24, 2026 – Metropolitan Police placed crime-scene tape after recovering a copper-jacket bullet.
- July 21, 2026 – Clifford Law Offices announced the filing of the claim.
Data & Statistics
- Claim amount: $25 million.
- Distance from shooter to victim: ? 20 yards.
- Injuries: abdominal gunshot wound; removal of colon and small-intestine sections; three surgeries (two completed, one pending).
- Shooter: Nasire Best, 21, of Maryland; killed by agents.
- Victim: Benjamin Del Real Jr., 25, private first class, on leave.
Official Statements & Responses
- Secret Service: Spokesperson Nate Herring declined comment on pending litigation and referred inquiries to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. An earlier statement confirmed a bystander was struck but gave no source of the bullet.
- Metropolitan Police Department: Spokesman Lee Lepe said ballistics analysis had not yet been returned and the investigation remains ongoing.
- U.S. Attorney’s Office: No comment on the investigation.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Bullet source: Del Real’s lawyers claim the bullet originated from Secret Service fire, pointing to the shooter’s back being turned and surveillance video. The Metropolitan Police has not released ballistics results, leaving the origin unverified.
- Agency accountability: The Secret Service acknowledges a bystander was hit but has not clarified whether its agents’ fire caused the injury, a factual gap the lawsuit seeks to address.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The degree of uncertainty that accompanies being seriously wounded presents its own unique challenges because the road to recovery will be long and strenuous,” — Del Real
- “With elite training comes an equally high level of responsibility to protect the public,” — Joseph Murphy
- “He’s a young man, he’s 25 years old, and he’s had part of his digestive system taken out,” — Joseph Murphy
- “The moment that I saw Ben bleeding was undoubtedly the scariest moment of my life,” — Sara Del Real
What’s Next
The notice of claim filed on July 21 2026 starts the legal process under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The filing requests preservation of firearms, shell casings, and all surveillance video. The case will move through administrative review before any court action, potentially shaping how federal law-enforcement agencies are held accountable for bystander injuries during armed engagements.
