Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot and wounded near the White House Wednesday in what Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described as a targeted attack. Washington Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll said the shooting happened around 2:15 p.m. when a gunman rounded a corner and opened fire on Guard members who were on patrol.
Other Guard members in the area quickly intervened and subdued the shooter. The two injured service members and the suspect, who was also shot, were taken to a hospital. Officials have not determined who fired the shots that wounded the gunman. The suspect is in custody and authorities have not yet announced a motive. Mayor Bowser said the person responsible will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially misstated that the Guard members had been killed, then corrected his statement. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was aware two Guard members were critically wounded and said plans are underway to send an additional 500 Guard troops to Washington at the president’s request. President Trump, who was in Florida at the time, posted on Truth Social that the shooter was severely wounded and would pay a steep price.
Federal agents, including the FBI, were on scene assisting with the investigation, officials including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel said. More than 2,000 National Guard personnel have been deployed to Washington in recent months for patrol and support duties; the military’s Joint Task Force said about 179 of those troops came from West Virginia.
Last week a federal judge ruled that the use of troops in Washington, D.C., was unlawful and ordered an end to the deployment; that preliminary injunction has not taken effect while the administration appeals. This is a developing story and may be updated.