Updated: Nov. 26, 2025, at 5:50 p.m.
Two National Guard members were shot several blocks from the White House Wednesday afternoon and law enforcement officers apprehended a “severely wounded” suspect shortly afterward, government officials said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon two members of the National Guard were shot around 2:15 p.m. near 17th and I Streets NW — outside of the Farragut West Metro station — and are currently in critical condition, with both local and federal law enforcement officers taking the suspect into custody. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the conference initial investigations by federal and local law enforcement agencies have indicated the suspect appears to have targeted the National Guard members in the shooting.
“One individual appeared to target these Guardsmen,” Bowser said. “That individual has been taken into custody.”
Bowser said the National Guard members who were shot are being treated at a local hospital. A GW Hospital spokesperson deferred questions about whether any individuals involved in the shooting were transported there to law enforcement officials.
Jeff Carroll, the executive assistant chief of specialized operations at MPD, said the suspect appears to have acted alone and police have no other suspects at this time. Carroll said a combination of other National Guard members, MPD officers, the Secret Service and Metro Transit Police Officers apprehended the suspect, who attempted to flee.
Caroll said the suspect who shot the National Guard members was also shot during the incident.
“It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Caroll said.
D.C. Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson Vito Maggiolo said FEMS treated three gunshot victims at 17th and H Streets NW and transported them to a hospital, though he declined to specify which hospital, citing privacy laws.
Patel said due to the apparent targeting of a federal officer, federal law enforcement agencies — including the Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service — will lead the investigation of the shooting, but Metropolitan Police Department officers will remain involved.
“We will work together collaboratively because this is a matter of national security,” Patel said.
President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social at 3:23 p.m. saying the suspect is also “severely wounded” and will pay for their actions.
“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 said in the post.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said shortly after the shooting Trump asked him to deploy 500 additional troops to D.C. in response to the incident, which Hegseth said he was directing the Secretary of the Army to do.
A federal judge last week ordered the removal of Guard troops from the city, ruling that Trump’s deployment of troops throughout D.C. unlawfully interfered with local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement efforts in the District. The judge stayed her order for 21 days to allow for an appeal of the decision.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey posted on X at 3:42 p.m. that the two injured National Guard members were from the West Virginia National Guard and died from injuries sustained in the shooting, but about 20 minutes later said there were “conflicting reports” about their condition.
“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,” Morrisey said in his second post.
The Joint D.C. Task Force and MPD could not immediately be reached for comment.
This post has been updated to include the following:
This post has been updated to include new information from a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other federal and local law enforcement officials.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
Ryan Saenz and Gianna Jakubowski contributed reporting.
