Two National Guard Troops Critically Wounded in Shooting Near White House
Two United States National Guard soldiers from West Virginia were shot near the White House on Wednesday and remain in critical condition, officials confirmed. The suspect has been taken into custody, authorities said. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the attack as a “targeted shooting” and expressed her concern for the wounded troops. “I want to send my thoughts and prayers to the families of the guardsmen and to the guardsmen who are in critical condition in a local hospital,” she said. The situation initially caused confusion after West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey posted on social media that both service members had died. He later retracted the statement, citing “conflicting reports.” In an earlier message, he vowed to pursue accountability for the suspect. “These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country,” he wrote. “West Virginia will never forget their service or their sacrifice, and we will demand full accountability for this horrific act.” President Donald Trump, who was not at the White House at the time and had traveled to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, also addressed the incident on his platform Truth Social. He stated that the shooter, who is also reportedly injured, would face a “very steep price” for the attack. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her office was coordinating with other law enforcement agencies to investigate the motives behind the shooting. Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, Jeffery Carroll, confirmed the suspect’s arrest and hospitalization. “It appears to be a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard, and he was quickly taken into custody,” he said. The FBI has categorized the shooting as a “matter of national security.” Director Kash Patel noted that federal, state, and local authorities were deploying all available resources to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the attack. Al Jazeera’s Rosiland Jordan, reporting from the scene, described a heavy security presence around the Farragut West metro station, including DC police, Secret Service agents, and National Guard members. The National Guard, a state-based military force, is typically deployed by governors to respond to emergencies such as natural disasters. In August, former President Trump deployed federal troops, including National Guard soldiers, to patrol Washington as part of a campaign against rising crime. The deployment has since faced legal challenges, with a federal judge suspending it on the grounds of exceeding executive authority, although the suspension has been temporarily paused to allow for an appeal. The incident comes amid heightened political tensions in the United States, following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk in September and the killing of Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman in June.
| 2025-11-27 07:38:21