Two National Guard Members Critically Injured in Shooting Near White House

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically wounded in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW, close to Farragut Square.

According to Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll, the assailant approached the soldiers during their patrol and opened fire without warning. The suspect, who acted alone, was also injured during the exchange and is currently in custody.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the event as a "targeted attack." FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that both soldiers are in critical condition.

In response to the shooting, President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the reinforcement, which adds to the approximately 2,200 Guard members already stationed in the capital since August as part of a crime-reduction initiative.

The shooting prompted a temporary lockdown of the White House and surrounding areas. Witnesses reported a chaotic scene as law enforcement and emergency responders secured the vicinity.

The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released, and the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.