2 National Guardsmen critically injured in shooting near White House

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A shooting in downtown Washington, DC, on Wednesday left two members of the West Virginia National Guard critically injured.

This prompted a major law enforcement response near the White House and temporarily halting air traffic at Reagan National Airport.

According to West Virginia officials, the Guardsmen were shot after engaging in gunfire with the suspect, who was later detained and transported from the scene on a stretcher.

Two law enforcement sources confirmed that the soldiers exchanged fire with the attacker before being struck.

The Metropolitan Police Department said the scene had been secured and confirmed that one suspect is in custody, urging the public to avoid the affected area as investigations continue.

The shooting also triggered a rare pause in civilian air traffic. The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted arrivals into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for 19 minutes to allow medevac helicopters to operate safely near the scene, a spokesperson said. Normal airport operations later resumed.

The Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority added that passengers should expect delays due to the ongoing law enforcement activity downtown.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that two Guardsmen were shot, though early details on what led to the confrontation remain unclear. The National Guard has not yet issued a formal statement.

President Donald Trump reacted on Truth Social, describing the two Guardsmen as “critically wounded” and stating that the suspect was also “severely wounded.”

“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen will pay a very steep price,” Trump wrote, praising the National Guard, military, and law enforcement.

Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the suspect or the motive behind the shooting. The FBI, Secret Service, and DC Metropolitan Police are coordinating as forensic teams process the scene.

The incident unfolded in one of the most heavily secured parts of the capital, intensifying concerns about safety in federal zones ahead of the holiday period.