NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, May 24, 2026

Episode Date: May 25, 2026

Secret Service kills man who opened fire at White House security checkpoint; Trump says he won't 'rush into' deal to end war with Iran; California crews race to avoid toxic chemical tank explosion; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, as we come on the air, new developments in the deadly secret service shootout near the White House. The latest today, with that lockdown lifted after gunfire erupted at a secret service checkpoint. You hear it there, agents killing the suspect in a dramatic shootout, bullet holes, and shattered glass in buildings nearby. What we're now learning about both the gunmen and the bystander who was also hit. New questions tonight about the future of the war in the Middle East. President Trump now saying he won't rush into a deal with Iran just a day after calling it largely negotiated. Toxic threat, the race to control this tank filled with hazardous chemicals. The worst case scenario? A dangerous explosion in Southern California. New tonight, why a crack

in the tank might actually be a good thing. Dangerous floods and torrential rain from the Gulf to the northeast. In West Virginia, Boy Scouts rescued from a river. bank. Downpours flooding out roads like this, neighborhoods surrounded by water, the forecast ahead with the threat of more rain tomorrow. And there's good news tonight about the magic touch making this prom night extra special. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. Tonight we are learning new information about the chaotic shooting near the White House with those shots fired just feet from the North Lawn. And now we know the identity of the suspect killed by the Secret Service. We also have new word on how another person is doing, believed to be a bystander who was also hit

by gunfire. It's happening just a month after an attacker got past a checkpoint at the White House correspondence dinner where the president was set to speak. Our Julie Circon is at the White House and starts us off tonight. Tonight we are learning more about the suspect who opened fire outside of the White House Saturday. Officials say 21-year-old Nasir Best walked up to a Secret Service checkpoint, pulled a pistol out of his bag, and began shooting at officers who returned fire, killing him. The White House temporarily on lockdown. Best was known to Secret Service. Officers arrested him last year for attempting to gain entry to White House grounds.

Five senior law enforcement officials say he had a history of mental health concerns. A second person, an adult male, who authorities believed to be a by bystander, was struck by gunfire and transported to an area hospital. Bullet holes and shattered glass left behind the volley of shots at this busy intersection next to the White House. Shoshana Greenberg was at a restaurant near that corner with classmates and barricaded herself in the kitchen. Loudest noise I've ever heard. I thought this is going to be the day I am shot and killed. The president commending police and the Secret Service, conspiracy theories swirling around the Internet minutes after the shooting. Misinformation posted without any evidence.

A similar response to what unfolded four weeks ago after a gunman breached a Secret Service checkpoint at the White House Correspondence Dinner. The nation's capital on high alert tonight, ahead of high-profile events marking America's 250th birthday. Julie is joining us now from the White House. And Julie, we're also hearing more about how that bystander is doing, right? Hallie, D.C. Metro Police say that man hit by gunfire near here at the White House was not seriously injured. He's being treated at the George Washington University Hospital. And Hallie, no secret service members were hit. Hallie?

Julie Serkin at the White House. Glad you're doing okay. Thank you. Also, tonight, new questions about a potential deal to end the war with Iran after a roller coaster 24 hours. President Trump now saying he won't rush into a deal just a day after. calling it largely negotiated, all as he faces growing pushback from Republican allies here at home. Raf Sanchez reports. Tonight, as pro-regime crowds gather in Tehran, the world asking, deal or no deal. Less than 24 hours after saying an agreement with Iran had been largely negotiated, the president now posting, I've informed my representatives not to rush into a deal.

A senior administration official telling NBC news there's been progress, but no agreement will be signed today. While Iran's president saying the deal still needs approval from the Supreme Leader, Iran's ultimate decision maker. But Mr. Trump already under fire from fellow Republicans over reports Iran has not made an upfront commitment to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Now we're talking about a posture where we may accept the nuclear material remaining in Iran.

How does that make sense at all? Secretary of State Rubio on a diplomatic trip to India defending Mr. Trump. The idea that somehow this president is going to somehow agree to a deal that ultimately winds up putting Iran in a stronger position when it comes to nuclear ambitions is absurd. Tonight, a senior administration official saying the deal would commit Iran to giving up the uranium stockpile. But details of exactly how it will be handed over will be worked out over a period of 60 days. That likely won't satisfy Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. who insists the deal must also lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear sites and allow for Israel to continue striking in Lebanon.

Both the U.S. and Iran say the agreement will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but offering contradictory visions of what that means. The administration insisting the strait must be completely open, while Iran says its forces will remain in control of the critical waterway. Raff is joining us now from Doha. Raf, let's say this deal does get done sometime soon. Walk us through the timeline because it would create a new deadline, right? Yeah, Holly, so assuming this initial deal is agreed in the next couple of days,

you then have a 60-day deadline for a final agreement on the toughest issues. That gets you to late July, potentially early August. At that point, the midterm elections are just three months away. So there will be real political pressure to keep the straight open and get gaspour. prices down. Hally? Ralph Sanchez in Doha. Thank you. To Southern California now, and a glimmer of potential relief may be in a very dangerous situation for tens of thousands of people who've been evacuated with a toxic chemical

tank there at risk of a catastrophic leak or an even more devastating explosion. Steve Patterson is at the scene. Tonight, in the heart of Orange County, crews are scrambling to prevent this tank filled with hazardous chemicals from exploding. Officials say a late-night night. mission led to a potential literal crack in the case. What they found was a potential crack in the tank, which could potentially be relieving some of the pressure in there. Chief T.J. McGovern says that crack could possibly lower the magnitude of the explosion. Does the crack mean that it's leaking anything hazardous right now? Could it potentially be leaking stuff into the air?

It can always potentially do something. I could tell you right now there is no leak. And we know that because we have active air monitoring going right now. The unstable tank is inside this facility operated by GKN Aerospace, a part manufacturer for commercial and military aircraft. The company is saying they're working closely with all relevant federal, state, and local agencies, and their priority remains the safe resolution of this incident. It contains thousands of gallons of methyl-metachrylate, a highly volatile, highly flammable liquid chemical, toxic to humans.

If it explodes, officials say the blast radius, stretches up to half a mile and would cause severe structural damage, likely dispersing clouds of toxic vapors into the air. It's just, it's like living in a nightmare, you know? Up to 50,000 people now under mandatory evacuations. Some, like Eugene and his partner, Lydia, have had to live in their car, they say without access to critical medication. How were you feeling right now? I'm feeling nervous, scared. A living nightmare with no way of knowing when it could end. What's your biggest fear about all this? blowing up and then contaminate everything, you know, everything.

You know, that's where we live at. That's our home. Steve's joining us now just a few miles away from that tank. And Steve, even with word of this crack in the tank, it's not as though the threat of a potential explosion goes away. Hallie, absolutely the threat of that explosion remains. There is no timeline for when this ends. However, if there is a crack in that tank, if it is relieving pressure,

authorities here tell me that's a step in the right direction. Hallie? Steve Patterson, in Orange County, Thank you. Overseas tonight, a second hospital has been set on fire in the DRC as the Ebola outbreak in Africa grows. Doctors Without Borders says 18 suspected Ebola patients left the hospital during that second fire. The World Health Organization reports more than 900 suspected cases in that country. DRC officials say nearly 120 people have died of Ebola so far. Here at home, no relief from the torrential rain and dangerous flooding for millions tonight,

from the Gulf Coast to the northeast in this washout of a holiday weekend. Priscilla Thompson has the latest. Thunder and lightning filling the skies over Alabama. Roads there looking more like rivers. That's the stream right there. There's our mail box. This neighborhood in Ohio, surrounded by floodwaters, and an ominous funnel cloud swirling in Texas.

Wind and heavy rain sending people packing up their picnics. Leaving some scenes. seniors soaked from the Gulf Coast to the northeast. Mother Nature delivering a Memorial Day washout. This drone video shows the charred remains of homes in Texas that fire officials say were burned by lightning. And in West Virginia, several Boy Scouts strained out there in the river. Rescues after dozens of Boy Scouts became trapped along a river bank.

We heard them yelling from across the river for help. Jeffrey West and his family called for help. and took these photos. The boats were flipping over, a couple of kids were in the water. The fire department says no one was hurt. We might have a little bit of a flooding issue. Across the country, officials are urging caution, especially on the roads. An 18-wheeler seen here jackknifed in Michigan.

First responders in Ohio recovering this abandoned car stuck in floodwaters. As tonight, several communities are now canceling Memorial Day parades. Amid the stormy start to summer. Hallie, we have seen delays and ground stops throughout the day today from here in Texas to Chicago, D.C., New York, and Boston with more severe weather on the way. It could impact both travel on the roads and in the air, just as millions are headed out on Memorial Day. Hallie? Priscilla Thompson, thank you. Let's bring in meteorologist Matt Brickman from our NBC New York station for the latest forecast.

Hey, Matt, hate to sound like a broken record, but it appears there is more rain on the way. Yeah, beach season, this is not, Hallie. Much of the country has been dealing with rain this holiday weekend. In fact, 17 million still under flood alerts tonight as we expect continued showers and thunderstorms through the night tonight and into the day tomorrow. Now, that will quit tomorrow morning throughout the northeast. But for the southeastern part of the country, we'll continue to see showers and thunderstorms throughout the day on Monday, raising that risk of flooding once again. Some of those thunderstorms throughout the sense. Southeast could create travel delays with likely impacts in Atlanta and New Orleans,

and we could see some rain-caused delays throughout the Northeast as well. Hallie? Matt Brickman, thank you. When we come back, there is good news tonight about the magic that made this prom night one to remember. There is good news tonight about two teachers going the extra mile and the magic of making new memories for their students. Oh, I love them. For the students at Riverside Junior Senior High School in Pennsylvania, Oh, yeah. Oh, I'm keeping it there.

Prom is more than a night of dancing. It's a day of glitz and glam. Yes. But for many, this makeover wouldn't be possible without these two teachers and a little bit of magic. We are the fairy godmothers. Those fairy godmothers, special education teachers, Caitlin Engelmo and Jessica Traskavich, adding their sparkle. I want like a line of like silver. One lash, one curl, one dress at a time.

It just feels so magical. Like Ms. Y and Missy don't feel like your teachers. They feel like your best friends. Five years ago, Ms. Y and Ms. T. had a student who couldn't afford senior prom. So they got to work, accepting donations until they had a prom closet straight out of a fairy tale. It's really important to me because if we don't get this opportunity a lot of the time, especially with like the costs and stuff of the dresses.

makeup. The goal? A transformation to turn these ladies into the bells of the ball. And we want them to feel special. They're their own little prom queens. Prom queens getting the princess treatment. You look so great. And for the fairy godmothers, the reward isn't just about looking good, but feeling good too. Beauty is just being pampered. I want everybody to have a really great high school experience. And I think that's why we do what we do. We want everybody to feel included. It just

means a lot for them to say things like, this was the best part of the day. That just means everything. Where does she go? Well, certainly a prom night to remember. That is nightly news for this Sunday. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week.