A U.S. Army soldier from Salina has filed a federal tort claim against the U.S. Secret Service, alleging negligence after he was shot in the stomach during a May 23 incident near the White House, according to KSN-TV.
Pfc. Benjamin Del Real Jr. was visiting his sister in Washington, D.C., with his father when gunfire broke out near a security checkpoint. His attorney said Del Real was hit while he helped his father take cover behind a concrete barrier, and that the shooter—identified in the report as 21-year-old Nasire Best of Maryland—was killed after Secret Service returned fire.
The filing alleges Del Real suffered life-threatening injuries that required two surgeries, including procedures to address damage to his colon and small intestine, and follow-up treatment for infection. The attorney also said Del Real is scheduled for a third surgery and has not been able to return to active duty since the shooting.
While the Secret Service declined to comment on the pending litigation and referred the matter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the lawsuit seeks answers and accountability. Del Real is receiving care through the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and his long-term recovery—and whether he can return to duty—was described as uncertain.