2 National Guard members shot in ‘targeted’ attack in D.C., authorities say : NPR

Law enforcement responds to a shooting near the White House on November 26, 2025 in Washington, DC

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Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot and wounded Wednesday near the White House in Washington, D.C., in what the city’s mayor described as a “targeted” attack. The shooter, who was also shot, is in custody, according to authorities.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday evening, Jeffrey Carroll, executive deputy chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, said the shooting happened around 2:15 p.m.

Carroll said a gunman came around the corner and opened fire on Guard members who were patrolling.

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot dead near the White House on Wednesday, local authorities said. A suspect is being held at a local hospital.

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Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Washington Metropolitan Police Department Executive Deputy Chief Jeffery Carroll stand near FBI Director Kash Patel as he speaks to the media following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers November 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Nearby Guard members quickly intervened and subdued the shooter, he said. The two injured guards and the shooter were then taken to hospital. Carroll said it was unclear who shot the shooter.

The motive has not yet been determined. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said on X that the person responsible would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Earlier Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he knew two Guard members were “seriously injured.”

He announced plans to send 500 additional Guard troops to Washington at the request of President Trump.

“This will only strengthen our resolve to ensure that Washington, DC is safe and beautiful,” he added.

Members of the U.S. Secret Service and other law enforcement officers arrive at the Farragut West Metro station as they respond to a shooting November 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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A view of the scene after two National Guard members were shot and wounded near the White House on November 26, 2025. One suspect was taken into custody.

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West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey earlier said the Guard members had been killed, but reversed course less than a half-hour later.

“We are currently receiving conflicting information on the condition of our two Guard members,” he wrote on X.

In an article on Truth Social, Trump said he was aware of the incident. The president was in Florida at the time of the shooting.

“The animal that shot the two national guards… is also seriously injured, but whatever it is, it will pay a very high price,” he added.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told X that federal agents were at the scene of the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel also said on X that the bureau “is engaged and participating in the investigation.”

In recent months, more than 2,000 National Guard members have been sent to Washington to assist in patrols and beautification efforts.

Law enforcement officers secure the scene after a shooting in Washington, DC, Wednesday, November 26, 2025.

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More than half of the Guard members were brought in from other states, including about 179 Guard members from West Virginia, according to the Army’s Joint Task Force in Washington.

Trump began deploying troops to the nation’s capital in early August due to concerns about the city’s crime rate. Last week, a federal judge ruled that Washington’s use of troops was illegal and ordered an end to the deployment. The judge’s preliminary injunction has not yet taken effect to give the Trump administration time to appeal.

This is a developing story and will be updated.