Wednesday was marked by the wounding of two National Guard service members near the White House, located in the heart of Washington, D.C.; their condition, according to reports from Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel, remains critical. Mayor Bowser, in a post on X, described the incident as an “intentional use of a firearm,” specifying that the injured guardsmen belonged to the West Virginia National Guard. “To the American people and the world, I ask you to direct your prayers to these brave warriors who are in serious condition, and also to their families,” Patel addressed those present at the briefing. A D.C. police representative added at the same press conference that the guardsmen were on “active patrol” when an individual appeared, “raised an arm with a weapon, and opened fire on the National Guard service members.” One of the alleged perpetrators has been detained, and there is no evidence of others being present, as reported by Jeffrey Carroll, Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Carroll also noted that both the suspect and the two wounded individuals are receiving medical attention in local hospitals. Three sources in law enforcement told CNN that the attacker approached the guardsmen, apparently deliberately, firing first at one of them from a very close range. One source specified that the attacker then fired at the second guardsman who was trying to take cover behind a bus stop kiosk. The source added that the detainee refuses to cooperate with the investigation and had no identification upon arrest. FBI States Suspect’s Identity Has Been Determined Several officials involved in the investigation later informed CNN that the FBI believes it has established the identity of the alleged shooter. Officials stated that the preliminary identification matches a man from Washington state who presumably arrived from Afghanistan in 2021 as an immigrant. The suspect applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum earlier this year. One law enforcement official, noting that work is ongoing for final confirmation, reported that the preliminary name was established based on fingerprint analysis of the detainee. From right to left: FBI Director Kash Patel, Executive Assistant Chief of Metropolitan Police Jeffrey Carroll, and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser at a briefing after the incident. From left to right: FBI Director Kash Patel, Executive Assistant Chief of Metropolitan Police Jeffrey Carroll, and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser attend a press conference following the shooting. Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images Investigators have seized a handgun believed to have been used in the attack on the National Guard service members and are now determining how and when the suspect acquired it, as law enforcement sources told CNN. The sources also indicated that U.S. law restricts the sale of firearms to individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents, and it remains unclear whether the alleged shooter could have legally acquired the handgun. Video footage of the incident from a nearby Metro station captured the moment of the shooting, sources told CNN. The attacker approached three guardsmen, who apparently did not notice him until he opened fire, wounding the first, then the second, sources clarified. The shooter then, according to sources, leaned over the first victim and apparently attempted to fire another shot. At this moment, the third guardsman returned fire against the alleged attacker. Two law enforcement sources previously reported on Wednesday that the suspect was neutralized and transported from the scene on a stretcher. A source familiar with the investigation previously told CNN that, besides the two National Guard officers and the shooter himself, no other injuries were found on Wednesday. Trump Requested Additional National Guard Deployment Before the press conference, there were conflicting reports regarding the condition of one of the guardsmen after West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey mistakenly posted information about their deaths on social media, which he later corrected. Earlier on Wednesday, the D.C. Metropolitan Police confirmed on X that the situation on site was stabilized and one suspect was in custody, urging citizens to avoid the area. A woman near the scene told CNN she heard gunshots and then saw multiple people performing CPR on the victims on the ground. The Joint Task Force – National Capital Region, the National Guard unit responsible for mission organization in Washington, confirmed in a statement that “several” of its personnel “were involved in a shooting near the Farragut West Metro station,” adding that they are cooperating with D.C. Police and other “law enforcement agencies.” President Donald Trump was briefed on the shooting and commented on the incident on the social network Truth Social. “The animal that shot two Guardsmen… was also seriously wounded, but nonetheless, will pay a very high price,” the President’s message read. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset reported on Wednesday that Trump also demanded the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington in response to the shooting. Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, called for prayers for the guardsmen, who, he said, were in critical condition at that time. The shooting is a “somber reminder that soldiers, whether active duty, Reservists, or the National Guard, serve as the sword and shield of the United States of America,” Vance added. National Guard units from several states have been in Washington for several months as part of Trump’s program to combat crime in the capital, which was later extended to other cities across the country. National Guard service members and emergency services gather at a cordoned-off area near where the National Guard soldiers were wounded on Wednesday near the White House. National Guard service members and emergency services gather at a cordoned-off area near where the National Guard soldiers were wounded on Wednesday near the White House. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Trump mobilized the National Guard in August, granting the troops law enforcement authority. CNN reported last month that National Guard units would remain deployed in the city until at least February. However, last week, a federal judge suspended the mobilization of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., ruling that the deployment of troops by the Trump administration and the Department of Defense was unlawful. In her verdict, the judge noted that there are “over 2,000 National Guard service members” in the city daily. The judge did not immediately demand the withdrawal of the National Guard from the city, giving the Trump administration time to file an appeal, which was done on Tuesday. Earlier this Wednesday, the administration appealed to the federal court of appeals with a motion to urgently overturn the judge’s order to withdraw the National Guard from Washington, D.C.
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