Soldier hit by stray bullet near White House seeks $25M from Secret Service

Published Jul 23, 06:39 PM UTC

Private First Class Benjamin Del Real, Jr., a 25-year-old soldier stationed in North Carolina, is seeking $25 million from the U.S. Secret Service after being struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident near the White House on May 23, 2026. Del Real was visiting Washington, D.C., with his father and sister when a gunman opened fire on a Secret Service security post. While moving his father to safety, Del Real was shot in the abdomen and suffered a torn ACL. He underwent emergency surgery and had part of his colon and small intestine removed. His attorney claims a confidential source indicated the bullet came from Secret Service fire. The gunman, Nasire Best, 21, was shot and killed by agents. The claim, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges negligence by the Secret Service in failing to protect bystanders. The agency declined to comment, and the incident remains under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office.