Two members of the National Guard died after being shot in downtown Washington, near the White House, according to West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey.
“It is with great sadness that we can confirm that both West Virginia National Guard members who were shot today in Washington, DC have succumbed to their wounds. These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. We are in continued contact with federal officials as the investigation continues,” Morrisey said.
“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,” Morrisey said.
An unidentified man in a military uniform lies on a stretcher inside an ambulance, Nov. 26, 2025, in downtown Washington, DC. Two National Guard soldiers were shot just blocks from the White House, according to authorities.
Drew Angerer/AFP via Getty Images
The two National Guard members were a woman and a man, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the situation.
A suspect is in custody, the Metropolitan Police Department said, and the scene has been secured. A man believed to be a suspect is in critical condition, the law enforcement official said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshalls, ATF and FBI, responded to the shooting. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her agency was working with local authorities to gather more information.
According to a DC police officer, an active shooter incident was reported at 2:20 pm ET at the entrance to the Farragut West subway station.
A US Capitol Park Police helicopter is seen on the National Mall evacuating a National Guard shooting victim, November 26, 2025 in Washington, DC
Emily Hanson/AP
President Donald Trump has been briefed about the shooting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
A White House official confirmed that the White House is currently closed. Trump is currently in Florida, where he will spend Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago club.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, both seriously injured and now in two separate hospitals, is also seriously injured, but will still pay a very high price,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Wednesday afternoon. “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 all those associated with the Office of the President, stand with you!”
National Guard members and law enforcement officers at the scene of a shooting, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington, DC
Jay O’Brien/ABC News
Shooting site near the White House
Google Earth, DC Police Department
The National Guard was deployed to the nation’s capital as part of President Trump’s federal takeover of the city in August. According to the most recent update, there are 2,188 Guard personnel assigned to the DC
On Tuesday, during the traditional turkey pardon, Trump touted his administration’s takeover of DC. He said it was “one of our most unsafe places anywhere in the United States. It is now considered a totally safe city.”
“You could walk down any street in Washington and you’ll be fine. And I want to thank the National Guard. I want to thank them for the job they’ve done here, which is incredible,” Trump said at the event.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the shooting Wednesday while speaking to troops in Texas, where he was spending the day serving meals to soldiers and their families ahead of Thanksgiving.
“We’re still learning everything. We still don’t know why,” Vance said.
“It is a somber reminder that soldiers, whether active duty reserve or National Guard, are the sword and shield of the United States of America,” the vice president said. “And as a person who goes to work every day in that building and knows that there are many people who wear the uniform of the United States military, let me thank you very personally for what you are doing.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
