Editor’s word: The West Virginia governor initially mentioned that the two Guard members had died however has since mentioned there’s conflicting details about their circumstances.
Two Nationwide Guard members from West Virginia have been in vital situation on Wednesday after an unidentified man raised his arm and opened fireplace on them in an obvious “focused taking pictures” close to the White Home, officers mentioned.
The Guard members have been a lady and man, based on a regulation enforcement official briefed on the state of affairs, and have been being handled at native hospitals. The unidentified suspect rounded a nook, raised his arm with the weapon and opened fireplace round 2:15 p.m., MPD Govt Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll mentioned.
“It seems … to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the Nationwide Guard,” he mentioned.
An unidentified man in army fatigues lies on a stretcher inside an ambulance, Nov. 26, 2025, in downtown Washington, D.C. Two Nationwide Guard troopers have been shot a couple of blocks from the White Home, based on regulation enforcement.
Drew Angerer/AFP through Getty Photos
The suspect was in custody after he was subdued by different Guard members close by, based on Carroll. The unidentified male suspect was in vital situation.
“They heard the gunfire and so they truly have been capable of intervene and to carry down the suspect after he had been shot on the bottom,” Carroll mentioned of the responding Guard members.
Govt Assistant Chief on the Metropolitan Police Division Jeffery Carroll speaks throughout a press convention accompanied by Director of the U.S. Secret Service Sean M. Curran, FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, after two Nationwide Guard members have been shot close to the White Home in Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
It isn’t instantly recognized who shot the suspect, however Carroll mentioned the Guard members who have been shot have been armed.
A motive has not instantly been decided, nonetheless, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser mentioned the person “appeared to focus on” the Guard members.
A number of regulation enforcement companies, together with U.S. Marshals, ATF and the FBI, responded to the taking pictures. Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned her company was working with native authorities to collect extra info.
Nationwide Guard troopers transfer by the world following the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard troopers close to the White Home, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Based on a D.C. police official, there was an energetic shooter incident reported at 2:20 p.m. ET on the entrance to the Farragut West Metro station.
A U.S. Capitol Park Police helicopter is seen on the Nationwide Mall evacuating a Nationwide Guard taking pictures sufferer, Nov. 26, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
Emily Hanson/AP
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the taking pictures, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned in a press release.
A White Home official confirmed the White Home was placed on lockdown however that the order was later lifted about 5 p.m. Trump is at the moment in Florida, the place he’s spending Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago membership.
“The animal that shot the 2 Nationwide Guardsmen, with each being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, can be severely wounded, however regardless, pays a really steep value,” Trump wrote on his social media platform on Wednesday afternoon. “God bless our Nice Nationwide Guard, and all of our Navy and Legislation Enforcement. These are actually Nice Individuals. I, as President of the US, and everybody related to the Workplace of the Presidency, am with you!”
Members of the Nationwide Guard and regulation enforcement on the scene of a taking pictures, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Jay O’Brien/ABC Information
Location of taking pictures close to White Home
Google Earth , DC Police Division
The Nationwide Guard was deployed to the nation’s capital as a part of President Trump’s federal takeover of town in August. Based on the latest replace, there have been 2,188 Guard personnel assigned to D.C.
On Tuesday, through the conventional turkey pardon on the White Home, Trump touted his administration’s takeover of D.C. streets. He mentioned it was “one among our most unsafe locations anyplace in the US. It’s now thought-about a very protected metropolis.”
“You would stroll down any road in Washington and you are going to be simply fantastic. And I wish to thank the Nationwide Guard. I wish to thanks for the job you have executed right here is unimaginable,” Trump mentioned on the occasion.
Emergency automobiles collect at a cordoned off space close to the place Nationwide Guard troopers seem to have been shot close to the White Home, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Vice President JD Vance addressed the taking pictures on Wednesday as he spoke to troops at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, the place he was spending the day serving meals to troopers and their households forward of Thanksgiving.
“We’re nonetheless studying every little thing. We nonetheless do not know the motive,” Vance mentioned.
“It is a somber reminder that troopers, whether or not they’re energetic responsibility reserve or Nationwide Guard, our troopers are the sword and the protect of the US of America,” the vice chairman mentioned. “And as an individual who goes into work each single day in that constructing and is aware of that there are lots of people who put on the uniform of the US Military, let me simply say very personally thank them for what they’re doing.”
A member of the U.S. Secret Service secures the world close to a taking pictures close to the White Home on Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Win McNamee/Getty Photos
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth posted video of himself talking in regards to the taking pictures on his X account.
He referred to as it a “cowardly, dastardly act” and mentioned President Trump had requested him to ship one other 500 troops into D.C.
“This can solely stiffen our resolve to make sure that we make Washington, D.C. protected and delightful. The drop in crime has been historic, the rise in security and safety has been historic. But when criminals wish to conduct issues like this, violence in opposition to America’s finest, we are going to by no means again down,” he mentioned.
This can be a growing story. Please verify again for updates.
ABC Information’ Chris Boccia, Anne Flaherty, Jay O’Brien, Alexandra Hutzler and Ivan Pereira contributed to this report.
