Two National Guard members shot in attack just blocks from the White House

Two West Virginia National Guard members who deployed to the nations capital were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence that the mayor described as a targeted attack FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the Guard members were hospitalised in critical conditionThe presence of the National Guard in the nations capital has been a flashpoint issue for months fuelling a court fight and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administrations use of the military to combat what officials cast as an outofcontrol crime problemJeffrey Carroll an executive assistant DC police chief said investigators had no information on a motive He said the assailant came around the corner and immediately started firing at the troops citing video reviewed by investigators This was a targeted shooting Bowser said West Virginia Gov Patrick Morrisey initially said the troops had died but later walked back the statement to say his office was receiving conflicting reports about their conditionA suspect who was in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be lifethreatening according to a law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity The Trump administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to Washington following the shooting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Donald Trump asked him to send the extra troops Nearly 2200 troops currently are assigned to the joint task force operating in the city according to the governments latest updateTroops held down the shooterThe shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station After hearing the gunfire other troops in the area ran over and held down the shooter after he was shot Carroll said It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard Carroll said adding that it was not clear whether one of the Guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspectAt this point we have no other suspects Carroll said at a news conference At least one of the Guard members exchanged gunfire with the shooter said another law enforcement official who was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders performing CPR on one of the troops and treating the other on a glasscovered sidewalkWitnesses saw people fleeingStacy Walters said she was in a car near the scene when she heard two gunshots and saw people running Almost instantly law enforcement swarmed the area Its such a beautiful day Who would do this And were getting ready for the holidaysEmma McDonald who exited a metro station just after the shots were fired said she and a friend sought safety with others in a cafe McDonald told the AP that minutes later she saw first responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in bloodMore than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed to Washington in August Last week about 160 of them volunteered to extend their deployment until the end of the year while the others returned to West Virginia just over a week agoPolice tape cordoned off the scene where fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead Agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives were on scene as National Guard troops stood sentry nearby At least one helicopter landed on the National MallTrump vows that shooter will payTrump who was in Florida for Thanksgiving warned in a statement on social media that the animal who shot the guard members 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 Trump wrote on Truth Social I as President of the United States and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency am with youIn Fort Campbell Kentucky Vice President JD Vance urged everybody whos a person of faith to pray for the two Guard members He cautioned that much remained unknown including the motive of the shooter I think its a sombre reminder that soldiers whether theyre active duty reserve or National Guard our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America Vance said as he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troopsTrump issued an emergency order in August that federalised the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia The order expired a month later but the troops remained Last week a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision The Guard members have patrolled neighbourhoods train stations and other locations participated in highway checkpoints and been assigned to pick up trash and to guard sports eventsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever