By Hailey Gomez
Two National Guardsmen were shot blocks away from the White House on Wednesday.
The incident, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), occurred at 17th and I Street NW, just before 3 p.m. local time, with officials asking residents to stay away from the location. Emergency vehicles had been spotted rushing to the scene with at least one helicopter landing at the National Mall, according to AP News.
The MPD confirmed that the location was secured just before 3:30 p.m., with one suspect in custody. Details on the suspect, the motive and if others were involved have not been released by officials.
Officials told NBC News that the shooter has been “initially identified” as an Afghan national and is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.
President Donald Trump released a Truth Social post, confirming the two injured National Guardsmen and stating that they are in “critical condition.”
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote. “These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”
Republican West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey stated on X that the two guardsmen, both from West Virginia, died from their injuries, but later walked back his tweet. Morrisey posted that there are “conflicting reports about the condition” of the two guardsmen and will update accordingly.
In August, Trump deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and invoked Section 40 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to crack down on crime in the city. The decision from the president came after a slew of crimes in the city that attracted national attention.
Since the deployment, Democratic Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an order in September to continue Trump’s executive order of having the National Guard troops and having local law enforcement cooperate with them.
Members of law enforcement, including the U.S. Secret Service and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, respond to a shooting near the White House. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
