Two National Guard Members Critically Wounded in Targeted D.C. Ambush Near White House
Gunman critically injures two National Guard troops in brazen attack.
A brazen ambush near the White House left two National Guard members critically wounded on Wednesday afternoon, as a gunman targeted the uniformed patrol in a shocking display of violence just blocks from the nation's capital. The incident, unfolding at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time near the Farragut West Metro station in downtown Washington, D.C., prompted an immediate lockdown of key government buildings and heightened security measures across the federal district.
The assailant, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national residing in Bellingham, Washington, lay in wait for the high-visibility patrol before opening fire. He first shot a female Guardsman, seized her service weapon, and then struck her male counterpart in the neck, leaving both victims in critical condition. The attackers' calculated sequence of actions underscores the premeditated nature of the assault, which occurred in broad daylight amid a routine deployment of troops from West Virginia.
Swift retaliation from fellow Guardsmen turned the tide, as one member returned fire and wounded the suspect, enabling his swift apprehension by arriving law enforcement. Streets surrounding Farragut Square were cordoned off, and facilities including the White House and Treasury Department were placed under temporary lockdown to mitigate any broader threat. Initial reports erroneously suggested fatalities among the victims, but authorities later clarified the Guardsmen's grave but stable conditions.
Also Read: Trump and NYC Mayor-Elect Mamdani Forge New Political Rapport After White House Meeting
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser characterized the episode as a "targeted shooting," while federal response escalated rapidly. President Donald Trump, addressing the crisis from Florida, directed the deployment of an additional 500 troops to bolster security in the capital and vowed that the perpetrator would "pay a very steep price." Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth condemned the violence as a "cowardly, dastardly act," reaffirming commitments to safeguard the nation's institutions amid ongoing threats.
As the investigation unfolds under the joint oversight of D.C. police and federal agencies, no motive has been established, with officials cautioning that inquiries remain in preliminary stages. Vice President JD Vance emphasized the uncertainties, stating, "We still don’t know the motive. There’s a lot that we haven’t yet figured out." The suspect, currently hospitalized under guard, faces intense scrutiny, with no additional accomplices identified, leaving the capital on high alert as authorities probe potential links to wider security concerns.
Also Read: Trump Surprises Critics by Embracing New York Mayor-Elect Mamdani After White House Meeting
