Two West Virginia National Guard members have been shot by a Metro station near the White House in Washington.
The troops were shot by the Farragut West Metro station. One suspect was taken into custody, but their motive for the shooting is not known. President Donald Trump said the suspect is “severely wounded.”
The conditions of the troops shot by the Farragut West Metro station are not known. President Donald Trump said both are “critically wounded.” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially reported both succumbed to their injuries, but later retracted that, saying, they are “receiving conflicting reports.”
The shooting placed the White House on lockdown, a White House official told the Washington Examiner. Officials are “actively monitoring this tragic situation,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance were located in D.C. at the time of the shooting.
Trump responded to the arrest of the alleged shooter.
“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,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”
Vance, at a Thanksgiving celebration with Army soldiers in Kentucky, opened his remarks with prayers for the soldiers.
“We’re still learning everything. We still don’t know the motive. There’s a lot that we haven’t yet figured out, but what we do know is that a couple of national guardsmen were injured in the line of duty, and first of all, I want everybody who’s a person of faith to say a prayer for those two national guardsmen that they’re able to spend Thanksgiving with their families instead of losing their lives,” he said.
“I think it’s a it’s a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America… we’re praying that they’re going to be safe and they’re going to spend Thanksgiving with their families,” he added.
Secret Service members, the National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department were on the scene at Farragut West around 2:42 p.m.
“Critical Incident: MPD is on the scene of a shooting at 17th and I Street, NW,” the Metropolitan Police Department wrote on X. “Please avoid the area. Updates to come.”
The department later added that it secured the scene and has a suspect in custody.
At least one other government building, the U.S. Treasury, is reportedly under an active shooter lockdown. A ground stop was issued at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about 5 miles away from the White House, but was later lifted.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that two National Guard members had been shot. “Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.,” she wrote on X.
The FBI is “engaged and assisting” with the investigation, Director Kash Patel wrote on X. Attorney General Pam Bondi asked for prayers for the National Guard members.
Nurse Stacey Walters, 43, heard the shooting and was in the area when it happened.
She described the shots as a “boom, boom. Two boom-booms.”
“I didn’t think shooting — it’s a holiday, and it was so beautiful [outside],” she told reporters.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES TRUMP’S DC NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT UNLAWFUL
National Guard members have been deployed for weeks to protect the District of Columbia at the direction of President Donald Trump. Their orders had been to protect the city at least through February.
The administration is currently sparring with D.C.’s attorney general in a legal battle over the troops. A judge recently ruled that they were deployed illegally and halted the mobilization. The judge said there were more than “2,000 National Guard troops” every day in the city.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
