National Guardsmen shot near White House remain in ‘critical condition’
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Two National Guardsmen who were shot just blocks away from the White House are fighting for their lives in ‘critical condition,’ the FBI has confirmed.
FBI director Kash Patel described the attack as 'brazen' and 'heinous' and vowed that those responsible will be brought to justice.
He said: "We have assembled the full force of the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies to bring to bear all of our resources, to make sure we find the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act and make no mistake, they will be brought to justice."
He also expressed his sincere wish that people pray for the injured, as they receive medical treatment in hospital.
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The shooting took place at roughly 2.20pm ET at the entrance to the Farragut West Metro station, near the busy 17th and I St NW intersection in the capital.
Chief of local metropolitan police Jeff Carrol also elaborated further, adding: "Both of the individuals, the guard members, they are in critical condition at a local hospital at this time, being treated. At this point, we have no other suspects.
"We have reviewed video from the area. It appears, like I said, to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard, and he was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members."
The updated condition report comes after West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey mistakenly said both victims had died, before backtracking on his claim, citing 'conflicting reports.'
Law officials said to CBS that the suspect, who was taken into custody, was injured and has been transferred to a hospital, with their condition also currently unknown.
"The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation. The president has been briefed," Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, said in a statement.
President Trump, who is currently away from the White House for the Thanksgiving Holidays in Palm Springs, has since spoken out following the shooting, saying in a statement on Truth Social: "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. 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 everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!"
Following Wednesday’s attack, the Defense Department confirmed it will deploy 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement.
Hegseth called the shooting 'cowardly' and 'dastardly', and said that it would 'only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington D.C. safe and beautiful'.
More than 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington since August, as part of Trump’s controversial bid to maintain law and order.
Trump took federal control of the city’s police and mobilized the troops in what he described as a crackdown on crime, with officers regularly patrolling metro stations, tourist areas and landmarks ever since.