Topline
Two National Guard members are in critical condition after a “targeted attack” in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, according to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, leaving one suspect injured and the troops in critical condition.
National Guard soldiers respond to a shooting near the White House on November 26, 2025.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Key Facts
The two National Guard members, who were part of West Virginia’s National Guard force, sustained critical wounds before they were transported to local hospitals, President Donald Trump said, calling the shooting suspect an “animal.”
Metropolitan Police Department official Jeffery Carroll said a lone gunman “ambushed” members of the National Guard just blocks from the White House and “came around the corner” before firing at them, with other National Guard members intervening to end the attack.
Bowser called the incident a “targeted attack,” noting the suspect is in custody after sustaining an injury.
Officials said there are no other suspects.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters Trump asked him to deploy an additional 500 National Guard members to D.C. in the wake of the shooting.
The National Guard’s presence in D.C. is part of a larger anti-crime federal task force ordered by Trump in August.
What Is The Status Of The National Guard Troops Who Were Shot?
Officials said at a news conference around 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday evening that the two National Guard members were hospitalized in critical condition. There had been widespread reports earlier that the troops had been killed, after West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey posted to social media that he had confirmed the two had “lost their lives.” However, Morrisey walked back that statement about 20 minutes later, posting another message shortly after 4 p.m. EST saying there were “conflicting reports” and he was seeking “more complete information.”