An unidentified man in military uniform lies on a stretcher inside an ambulance in downtown Washington, DC, on November 26, 2025.
Drew Angerer | AFP | Getty Images
West Virginia’s governor announced that two West Virginia National Guard members shot near the White House on Wednesday have died.
Gov. Patrick Morrissey confirmed their deaths in a social media post.
“We are in continuous contact with federal authorities as the investigation continues,” he said.
A suspect in custody was also shot and suffered injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, said a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. A National Guard member was shot in the head, according to a person familiar with the incident who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The shooting occurred at the corner of 17th and H streets in the city’s northwest quadrant, about two blocks northwest of the White House.
Emergency medical personnel transported all three victims to the hospital, said Vito Maggiolo, public information officer for the D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Services. The Joint DC Task Force confirmed it responded to the incident after receiving reports of a shooting. The Metropolitan Police Department also said they were at the scene.
National Guard soldiers stand behind crime scene tape in a corner of downtown Washington, D.C., Nov. 26, 2025.
Drew Angerer | AFP | Getty Images
Police tape cordoned off the scene, emergency fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades roared overhead. Officials from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on the scene, with National Guard troops standing guard nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.
President Donald Trump, who is in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the “animal” who shot and killed the security guard “will pay a very high price.”
“God bless our National Guard, military and law enforcement. They are truly great people,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the President, stand with you!”
The National Guard presence in the nation’s capital has been a flashpoint in recent months, fueling legal battles and a broader public policy debate over the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what authorities say is an out-of-control crime problem.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on social media that he is “closely monitoring” the shooting and that his “heart breaks for the victims of this horrific shooting.”
A spokeswoman for Mayor Muriel Bowser said local leaders are actively monitoring the situation. Bowser attended a Thanksgiving event at the convention center in the morning, then held a press conference to explain why he will not seek re-election.
President Trump issued an emergency order in August that federalized local police departments and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.
Soldiers patrol neighborhoods and train stations, participate in highway checkpoints, and are also assigned to pick up trash and provide security at sporting events.
A federal judge last week ordered a halt to the deployment, but put the order on hold for 21 days to give the Trump administration time to withdraw troops or appeal the decision.
