2 Nationwide Guard members shot in Washington, D.C., suspect in custody, officers say

The suspect answerable for capturing two Nationwide Guard members in D.C. is believed to be an Afghan nationwide, three regulation enforcement sources instructed CBS Information.

Regulation enforcement mentioned the suspect is believed to have acted alone.

By Anna Schecter, Camilo Montoya-Galvez, Nicole Sganga

The federal authorities requested an appellate court docket on Wednesday to halt final week’s ruling that discovered the Nationwide Guard’s deployment to the streets of D.C. is probably going illegal.

The emergency movement didn’t point out Wednesday’s capturing of two Guard members in D.C. or cite it as a part of its reasoning.

The Trump administration had requested a keep of the decrease court docket’s ruling by Dec. 4, both halting it on a short lived foundation or whereas an attraction of the ruling makes its method via the court docket system.

Final week, U.S. District Decide Jia Cobb discovered that President Trump lacked the ability to deploy the D.C. Guard for “non-military, crime-deterrence missions within the absence of a request from the town’s civil authorities.” She additionally discovered that the deployment of Guard forces from different states wasn’t legally approved. The choose paused her ruling for 21 days pending an attraction.

In Wednesday’s submitting, the administration argued the monthslong deployment is “plainly lawful,” noting that Mr. Trump is commander-in-chief of the D.C. Guard and pointing to federal and native legal guidelines that the administration says justify the deployment.

“It is a wholly unjustified incursion into the territory of each the President and Congress,” the movement states. “And within the identify of vindicating native pursuits, it threatens to derail a remarkably profitable mission that, with the participation and collaboration of D.C. authorities, together with the D.C. Mayor, has lowered crime and improved life in our Nation’s capital.”

D.C. Lawyer Normal Brian Schwalb condemned the assault, posting on social media, “Violence is rarely the reply and should be swiftly condemned by all.”

“The Nationwide Guard are volunteers. They signal as much as depart their common jobs and households at a second’s discover to serve their nation. It is a heartbreaking day for DC and our nation. My ideas are with the victims, their households, associates, and fellow Guardsmen,” he wrote.

Schwalb filed a lawsuit in September arguing that the Trump administration’s deployment of Nationwide Guard troops within the district was unconstitutional.

Regulation enforcement sources described the assault as “intentional and focused.”

At this level it’s unclear if the suspect interacted with the Nationwide Guard troops earlier than opening fireplace.

Jeff Carroll, the manager assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Division, described the capturing as an ambush assault in a closely populated space within the metropolis. Carroll mentioned the troops have been on “excessive visibility patrols” when the suspect walked round a nook round 2:15 p.m., raised a firearm after which shot the 2 Nationwide Guard members. 

“We have now reviewed video from the realm. It seems, like I mentioned, to be a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the Nationwide Guard, and he was rapidly taken into custody by different Nationwide Guard members and regulation enforcement members,” he mentioned.

After the photographs have been fired, different Nationwide Guard members have been in a position to rush to their colleagues’ facet.

“There have been different Nationwide Guard members that have been within the space — they have been in a position to, after some backwards and forwards, in a position to subdue the person and convey him into custody,” Carroll mentioned, including that different members of regulation enforcement within the space additionally supplied help. 

He mentioned the investigation is in preliminary levels. Regulation enforcement is investigating all features of the suspect and his attainable connections, Carroll mentioned.

He mentioned there may be at the moment no different suspect, and that they’ve discovered no credible motive presently.

Congressional leaders and different members of the Home and Senate shared messages of assist for the victims of the capturing. 

Senate Majority Chief John Thune mentioned his ideas and prayers are with the Guardsmen, including, “I urge you to maintain them in your prayers too.”

Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer mentioned his “coronary heart breaks” for the victims and mentioned he is “praying for the wounded Nationwide Guardsmen and their households.” 

Home Speaker Mike Johnson requested Individuals to hitch him in prayer for the Guardsmen and their family members. “The Nationwide Guard has finished heroic work this 12 months working across the clock to make our nation’s capital secure once more,” he wrote on X. “We’re endlessly grateful for the swift actions of regulation enforcement and for all those that danger their very own lives to guard everybody else.”

Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries additionally mentioned he was praying for the Nationwide Guard members. “Grateful for the courageous regulation enforcement officers and first responders who swiftly apprehended a suspect,” he wrote on X, including, “There isn’t a place for violence in America.”

“Violence towards our women and men in uniform is disgusting,” Sen. Rick Scott mentioned. “God be with them and their households.” 

Sen. Mark Kelly known as the capturing “horrific.” He wrote, “I am pondering of the households of those two Nationwide Guard members who misplaced their lives whereas serving the day earlier than Thanksgiving.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene mentioned the capturing was “heartbreaking” and that she was praying for the households. “Each time I see the Nationwide Guard they’re so good and respectful. I’ve seen them selecting up trash on the Nationwide Mall. And those I’ve seen haven’t been armed,” she wrote on X.

Rep. Nancy Mace known as the capturing “DEVASTATING.”

At a briefing Wednesday afternoon, FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned the 2 Nationwide Guard members who have been shot are in vital situation.

“Please ship your prayers to these courageous warriors, who’re in vital situation, and their households,” he mentioned. “They’re right here serving our nation.”  

Patel mentioned the suspect “might be dropped at justice” and the crime might be investigated by the FBI with its companions and prosecuted on the federal stage. He known as the capturing “a matter of nationwide safety.”

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned President Trump has directed him to ask the Secretary of the Military to ship 500 extra Nationwide Guard troops to D.C. after the capturing.

Hegseth condemned the capturing and mentioned, “We are going to by no means again down. We are going to safe our capital.”

A U.S. official confirms the Military has obtained the request from Secretary Hegseth for 500 extra guardsmen and can work to meet it rapidly. 

Learn extra right here.

By Cara Tabachnick, Eleanor Watson

The suspect within the assault was shot 4 instances, sources instructed CBS Information. 

The suspect was transported by ambulance to an space hospital and is now in police custody, regulation enforcement mentioned.

West Virginia Gov Patrick Morrisey mentioned on social media he’s “now receiving conflicting stories” concerning the situation of the 2 Nationwide Guard members who have been shot. 

Morrisey mentioned in an earlier social media put up that the 2 had died from their accidents. 

He mentioned his workplace will present extra updates as soon as they obtain extra full info.

“Our prayers are with these courageous service members, their households, and your entire Guard neighborhood,” Morrisey mentioned. 

FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned the company is “engaged and helping” with the investigation into the capturing. 

“Please pray for them and we’ll replace with extra info as we’re in a position,” Patel mentioned. 

Members of the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals have been additionally on the scene. 

The Nationwide Guard members have been shot in an ambush-style assault, two federal regulation enforcement officers instructed CBS Information. 

The assault turned a shoot-out, the officers mentioned, and the suspect was additionally shot. 

Ambush incidents focusing on regulation enforcement have been on the rise in 2025. 

The capturing seems to have begun close to the Farragut Metro station, senior regulation enforcement officers instructed CBS Information. 

There isn’t a recognized connection to the White Home presently, the officers mentioned, although the incident occurred simply blocks from the North Garden. 

A senior regulation enforcement official instructed CBS Information that roughly 10 to fifteen photographs have been fired. 

One sufferer was transported to the hospital by helicopter, whereas the suspect was transported by ambulance, the senior regulation enforcement official mentioned. 

President Trump mentioned on Reality Social that each Nationwide Guard members have been “critically wounded” within the capturing. They’re in separate hospitals, he mentioned. 

Mr. Trump additionally mentioned the suspect was “severely wounded.” 

“God bless our Nice Nationwide Guard, and all of our Army and Regulation Enforcement,” Mr. Trump wrote. “These are actually Nice Folks. I, as President of the US, and everybody related to the Workplace of the Presidency, am with you!”

The D.C. Nationwide Guard instructed CBS Information it’s working intently with the MPD and different regulation enforcement companies following the incident. 

“The well being and security of our service members is our prime precedence as we proceed to assist the residents and guests of Washington, D.C.,” the Guard mentioned in an announcement. 

1000’s of Nationwide Guard troops have been first ordered to Washington, D.C., in August. President Trump deployed forces to the town as a part of a broader crackdown on crime. The deployment, which has been topic to authorized challenges, has been prolonged a number of instances and is at the moment set to run via February 2026. 

Nationwide Guard forces have been dispatched to a number of U.S. cities, together with Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, throughout Mr. Trump’s second time period. 

A suspect who allegedly opened fireplace on the Nationwide Guardsmen has been injured and transported to an space hospital, senior regulation enforcement officers instructed CBS Information. The suspect’s situation is unknown presently. 

The Metropolitan Police Division mentioned the crime scene was secured and {that a} suspect was in custody. 

President Trump has been briefed on the capturing, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned. The president is at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Seashore, Florida, for the Thanksgiving vacation.

“The White Home is conscious and actively monitoring this tragic scenario,” Leavitt mentioned in an announcement. 

Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned two members of the Nationwide Guard have been shot. She didn’t share any particulars on their situations.

“Please be part of me in praying for the 2 Nationwide Guardsmen who have been simply shot moments in the past in Washington D.C.,” Noem mentioned in an announcement. 

“DHS is working with native regulation enforcement to assemble extra info.”