2 U.S. National Guard members shot near White House, suspect in custody

Police keep a presence following the shooting of two U.S. National Guard members near the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Nov. 26, 2025. Two U.S. National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday and a suspect is in custody, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon and a suspect is in custody, according to local authorities.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey claimed in a post on X that both members of the West Virginia National Guard have passed away from their injuries, but said in another post about 20 minutes later that he was "receiving conflicting reports" about their condition.

FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters that the two members are "in critical condition."

In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the two guardsmen, "with both being critically wounded," are in two separate hospitals, and that the gunman was also severely wounded.

Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., said at a briefing that the members were victims of a "targeted shooting."

The shooting incident took place a few blocks away from the White House at around 2:15 p.m. local time, according to authorities.

Following the shooting, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that Trump asked him to send 500 more National Guard members to Washington, D.C.