2 West Virginia National Guard Soldiers Shot Near White House Are in Critical Condition
Two West Virginia National Guard soldiers who were shot Wednesday afternoon near the White House are in critical condition after conflicting updates about whether or not they had initially survived the attack, CNN reports.
The shooting occurred close to the Farragut West Metro station, an area now crowded with Guard personnel assigned to “high visibility patrols.” Local police said the site was secured within minutes and that a single suspect was taken into custody. The attacker was wounded during the confrontation and transported to a hospital.
Senior officials said federal and local investigators have not identified additional suspects. MPD’s Jeffery Carroll told reporters, “So, no at this time, there is no indication there was any other suspect. The one suspect that was involved in this incident, they were shot during the interaction, and they were transported to the hospital for treatment.”
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West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced the two soldiers had been killed, then reversed his statement, saying that his administration was receiving inconsistent updates. “We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information,” he wrote on X.
President Donald Trump later stated on Truth Social that both soldiers were “critically wounded” and said the gunman was “also severely wounded” and “will pay a very steep price.”
FBI Director Kash Patel and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said the troops were targeted while carrying out routine patrols. Three law enforcement sources told investigators the shooter appeared to focus specifically on the guardsmen. The suspect carried no identification and did not cooperate with questioning.
The attack unfolded as the capital remains under an extended National Guard activation that began in August, when the administration declared a “crime emergency” and brought in out-of-state units to reinforce law enforcement. More than 2,300 Guard members are currently on duty, including 416 from West Virginia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Trump requested an additional 500 soldiers hours after the shooting.
Multiple nearby office buildings were briefly locked down, and the White House was secured as emergency teams cleared the scene.
