Two US National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House in Washington on Wednesday. The Trump administration is responding to the attack by sending more troops to the capital.
Two US National Guard troops were shot near the White House in Washington. FBI Director Kash Patel said Wednesday they were seriously injured and in critical condition. Patel called it a horrific act of violence. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser also said the National Guard members were in critical condition in the hospital.
Earlier reports indicated that the two National Guardsmen were dead. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially stated that the two soldiers from his state had"succumbed to their injuries." However, he later clarified that their deaths were not confirmed, as there were"conflicting reports."
US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the victims were in the hospital and in critical condition. The suspected shooter, whom Trump called an"animal," was seriously injured, Trump stated. He would"pay a heavy price."
Vice President JD Vance called on all US citizens to pray for the two soldiers. According to police, the incident occurred two blocks northwest of the White House, near the Farragut West metro station.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos and panic in the bustling center of Washington after the shooting. Police cordoned off the area around the metro station. Officers with rifles stood guard behind yellow tape, a helicopter circled the city center, and numerous fire trucks and police vehicles were on the scene. Agents from the Secret Service and other federal agencies were deployed.
The perpetrator's motive is unclear.
The identity of the arrested suspect was initially unknown. Police believe he acted alone. Mayor Bowser described it as a"targeted" attack on the National Guard, without elaborating on the possible motive.
A Washington police representative explained that the gunman came around a corner and immediately opened fire on the two National Guardsmen. Other National Guardsmen heard the shots, intervened, and subdued the suspect after he fell to the ground. Police arrived moments later.
Following the incident, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to increase the number of National Guard troops in the capital by 500 to more than 2,500. He emphasized that the shooting incident strengthened the administration's resolve to make Washington"safe and beautiful" again.
The National Guard is a military reserve unit and part of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is normally under the control of the individual states and is deployed in situations such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or other emergencies. However, in certain situations, the U.S. president can also assume command. Special rules apply to Washington.
More than 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington since the summer. Trump ordered the controversial deployment, arguing that the capital was failing to control crime. Crime statistics do not support this claim.
The capital took legal action against the deployment. A federal judge recently declared the deployment of the National Guard unlawful and ordered it to end. However, she suspended her decision for three weeks to allow the Trump administration to appeal. The order will therefore remain in effect until December 11.
Trump was at his golf course in West Palm Beach at the time of the incident. His spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the White House was closely monitoring all developments surrounding the tragic incident.
AP/dpa/AFP/ds/gub/dp
