2 National Guard Troops Critically Wounded In Shooting Near White House

Two members of the National Guard were shot blocks from the White House on Wednesday afternoon and were critically wounded, according to President Donald Trump and federal law enforcement officials.

A spokesperson for the D.C. Joint Task Force confirmed that two of the victims, both of whom were hospitalized, were members of the West Virginia National Guard. FBI Director Kash Patel said at a press conference early Wednesday evening that the two troops were in critical condition.

Jeff Carroll, a D.C. police official, said at the press conference that “a lone gunman … raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” adding that the suspect — who was shot and transported to a local hospital — had been taken into custody by members of the National Guard after the shooting. He said there are no other suspects at the time and that officials do not yet know the suspect’s motive, nor who shot the gunman.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also said that she had briefed Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro on the incident, which she described as “a targeted shooting.”

Earlier Wednesday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially wrote on social media that he confirmed the two troops — who were deployed from his state — died from their injuries. Twenty minutes later, he walked that back, writing that he was “receiving conflicting reports about the condition” of the troops and would provide further updates once he had more information.

National Guard troops have been in Washington since August, when Trump deployed them to the city as part of his crackdown on street crime and a ramp-up of immigration enforcement. In addition to the deployment of the D.C. Guard, several red states — including West Virginia — also sent troops to the nation’s capital to assist with the deployment.

Shortly after the shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Trump had instructed him to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington.

“This happened just steps away from the White House. It will not stand,” Hegseth told reporters. “And that’s why President Trump has asked me ... to add 500 additional troops, National Guardsmen, to Washington, D.C. This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful.”

Army spokesperson Col. Dave Butler said in a statement the Army “received the request and will rapidly execute.”

Three gunshot victims had been transported to area trauma centers, D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Vito Maggiolo said. Trump wrote on social media that the suspect was also “severely wounded” and would “pay a very steep price.”

“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People,” Trump wrote. “I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”

The White House was locked down as reports of the shooting flooded in, and has since reopened. Trump was not in Washington at the time.

“The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The President has been briefed.”

The identities of the victims and the suspect are unknown.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon said the Defense Department was aware of the reports but had no further details to share.

Cheyanne M. Daniels, Faith Wardwell and Jack Detsch contributed to this report.