Two U.S. National Guard members were ambushed and shot by a lone gunman near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Both victims are reported to be in critical condition, and the suspect has been taken into custody. The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the incident occurred during high-visibility patrols, and the suspect approached the guardsmen and opened fire at close range before targeting another guard who attempted to take cover behind a bus stop.
Executive Assistant Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffrey Carroll stated that the suspect appeared to be a lone gunman who ambushed the guardsmen. The police have secured the crime scene, and the suspect is currently in custody. The attack has raised concerns about security in the capital region, with officials emphasizing the heightened threat environment faced by law enforcement and military personnel.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey initially reported that the victims had died from their injuries but later clarified that he was receiving conflicting information about their condition. President Donald Trump condemned the shooting on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that the suspect would face severe consequences. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed solidarity with the victims, describing soldiers as the sword and shield of the United States.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guardsmen would be deployed to DC, bringing the total to 2,500 troops. Trump had previously deployed the National Guard in DC and other urban areas as part of a campaign to address what he described as rampant crime in Democratic strongholds. Critics have labeled this move as an overreach of executive power, which has led to legal challenges and temporary injunctions on some deployments.
The incident has intensified debates over the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement and the security protocols in place for high-profile locations. The shooting has also sparked renewed discussions about the safety of national security personnel and the potential for targeted attacks in the nation’s capital.