Two National Guardsmen have died after a shooting just before 2:30 on Wednesday, right next to Farragut Square Park and two blocks north of the White House.
The scene at 17th Street and I Street NW is now secured and a shooting suspect is in custody, the Metropolitan Police Department said on social media just before 3 p.m. Police believe there is only one suspect in the shooting.
West Virginia Guardsmen killed
The two National Guardsmen were both from West Virginia, and their deaths were confirmed in a statement from West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
“It is with great sorrow that we can confirm both members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier today in Washington, DC have passed away from their injuries,” Morrisey said in a statement posted to social media. “These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continues.”
“Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community. West Virginia will never forget their service or their sacrifice, and we will demand full accountability for this horrific act.”
What happened?
The two guardsmen were shot in an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, a law enforcement source tells News4.
No information was immediately shared about who opened fire or why.
The third person shot is the suspect, a source tells News4. No other people were injured in the shooting.
One of the guardsmen injured was taken to a hospital via med-evac helicopter. The other guardsman and the suspect were taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Two women who were in Franklin Square at the time said they didn’t hear gunshots, but knew something unusual had happened when they saw National Guard members running.
“We saw the National Guard specifically running toward this way and that’s why we were kind of shocked because I’ve never seen National Guards running unless it’s something serious,” said Nyla McGee, who lives in D.C.
“Especially, we saw undercover cars coming in and a helicopter at one point. That’s how I knew it was getting serious,” she said.
Reactions and responses
Though the shooting took place near the White House, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are both out of the District. Trump is at his home in Mar-a-Lago, while Vance is at Ft. Campbell, an army base on the border between the Tennessee and Kentucky.
President Donald Trump described the two Guardsmen as “critically wounded” in a social media post.
“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. 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!” he said in a Truth Social post.
DC Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, whose jurisdiction includes Farragut Square Park, shared a statement to social media shortly after the shooting.
“Today’s shooting near the White House is devastating and unacceptable,” Pinto said. “As the Councilmember representing this area and the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, I am deeply disturbed and saddened that there was a shooting injuring two National Guard troops.”
“These are public servants and they should not be harmed while doing their jobs,” the statement continued. “We must be more proactive as a country to get firearms off our streets. I am actively working to get to the bottom of what happened.”
Effects of the shooting
The area near Farragut Square Park is shut down while law enforcement investigates.
Several law enforcement vehicles were at the scene moments after the shooting took place. News4 saw an ambulance and a Park Police vehicle, and NBC News cameras saw several MPD cars parked near Farragut Square Park.
Metro Transit Police said in a social media post that they are also assisting in the investigation, since the shooting happened close to the Farragut West station. Metro customers are asked to avoid the area.
The FBI is also assisting with the investigation, Director Kash Patel said in a post to social media.
The FAA put a brief ground stop in place at Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA) at 3:20 p.m. for safety as helicopters flew over D.C. No planes took off from the airport amid heavy Thanksgiving travel until the ground stop ended at 4 p.m.
DCA shared a statement shortly after the ground stop was lifted.
“Passengers should check with their airline for schedule updates,” the airport said. “There may be delays related to a law enforcement incident in downtown Washington, D.C., earlier today. Flights have resumed, and the airport is open and operating normally.”
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