2 National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C., suspect in custody, officials say

D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb condemned the attack, posting on social media, “Violence is never the answer and must be swiftly condemned by all.”

“The National Guard are volunteers. They sign up to leave their regular jobs and families at a moment’s notice to serve their country. This is a heartbreaking day for DC and our nation. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and fellow Guardsmen,” he wrote.

Schwalb filed a lawsuit in September arguing that the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops in the district was unconstitutional.

Law enforcement sources described the attack as “intentional and targeted.”

At this point it is unclear if the suspect interacted with the National Guard troops before opening fire.

Jeff Carroll, the executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, described the shooting as an ambush attack in a heavily populated area in the city. Carroll said the troops were on “high visibility patrols” when the suspect walked around a corner around 2:15 p.m., raised a firearm and then shot the two National Guard members. 

“We have reviewed video from the area. It appears, like I said, to be a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard, and he was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members and law enforcement members,” he said.

After the shots were fired, other National Guard members were able to rush to their colleagues’ side.

“There were other National Guard members that were in the area — they were able to, after some back and forth, able to subdue the individual and bring him into custody,” Carroll said, adding that other members of law enforcement in the area also provided assistance. 

He said the investigation is in preliminary stages. Law enforcement is investigating all aspects of the suspect and his possible connections, Carroll said.

He said there is currently no other suspect, and that they have found no credible motive at this time.

Congressional leaders and other members of the House and Senate shared messages of support for the victims of the shooting. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said his thoughts and prayers are with the Guardsmen, adding, “I urge you to keep them in your prayers too.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said his “heart breaks” for the victims and said he’s “praying for the wounded National Guardsmen and their families.” 

House Speaker Mike Johnson asked Americans to join him in prayer for the Guardsmen and their loved ones. “The National Guard has done heroic work this year working around the clock to make our nation’s capital safe again,” he wrote on X. “We are forever grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement and for all those who risk their own lives to protect everyone else.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also said he was praying for the National Guard members. “Thankful for the brave law enforcement officers and first responders who swiftly apprehended a suspect,” he wrote on X, adding, “There is no place for violence in America.”

“Violence against our men and women in uniform is disgusting,” Sen. Rick Scott said. “God be with them and their families.” 

Sen. Mark Kelly called the shooting “horrific.” He wrote, “I’m thinking of the families of these two National Guard members who lost their lives while serving the day before Thanksgiving.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the shooting was “heartbreaking” and that she was praying for the families. “Every time I see the National Guard they are so nice and respectful. I’ve seen them picking up trash on the National Mall. And the ones I’ve seen have not been armed,” she wrote on X.

Rep. Nancy Mace called the shooting “DEVASTATING.”

At a briefing Wednesday afternoon, FBI Director Kash Patel said the two National Guard members who were shot are in critical condition.

“Please send your prayers to those brave warriors, who are in critical condition, and their families,” he said. “They are here serving our country.”  

Patel said the suspect “will be brought to justice” and the crime will be investigated by the FBI with its partners and prosecuted at the federal level. He called the shooting “a matter of national security.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Trump has directed him to ask the Secretary of the Army to send 500 additional National Guard troops to D.C. after the shooting.

Hegseth condemned the shooting and said, “We will never back down. We will secure our capital.”

A U.S. official confirms the Army has received the request from Secretary Hegseth for 500 additional guardsmen and will work to fulfill it quickly. 

Read more here.

By Cara Tabachnick, Eleanor Watson

The suspect in the attack was shot four times, sources told CBS News. 

The suspect was transported by ambulance to an area hospital and is now in police custody, law enforcement said.

West Virginia Gov Patrick Morrisey said on social media he is “now receiving conflicting reports” about the condition of the two National Guard members who were shot. 

Morrisey said in an earlier social media post that the two had died from their injuries. 

He said his office will provide additional updates once they receive more complete information.

“Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community,” Morrisey said. 

FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is “engaged and assisting” with the investigation into the shooting. 

“Please pray for them and we will update with more information as we are able,” Patel said. 

Members of the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Marshals were also on the scene. 

The National Guard members were shot in an ambush-style attack, two federal law enforcement officials told CBS News. 

The attack became a shoot-out, the officials said, and the suspect was also shot. 

Ambush incidents targeting law enforcement have been on the rise in 2025. 

The shooting appears to have begun near the Farragut Metro station, senior law enforcement officials told CBS News. 

There is no known connection to the White House at this time, the officials said, though the incident occurred just blocks from the North Lawn. 

A senior law enforcement official told CBS News that roughly 10 to 15 shots were fired. 

One victim was transported to the hospital by helicopter, while the suspect was transported by ambulance, the senior law enforcement official said. 

President Trump said on Truth Social that both National Guard members were “critically wounded” in the shooting. They are in separate hospitals, he said. 

Mr. Trump also said the suspect was “severely wounded.” 

“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” Mr. Trump wrote. “These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”

The D.C. National Guard told CBS News it is working closely with the MPD and other law enforcement agencies following the incident. 

“The health and safety of our service members is our top priority as we continue to support the citizens and visitors of Washington, D.C.,” the Guard said in a statement. 

Thousands of National Guard troops were first ordered to Washington, D.C., in August. President Trump deployed forces to the city as part of a broader crackdown on crime. The deployment, which has been subject to legal challenges, has been extended multiple times and is currently set to run through February 2026. 

National Guard forces have been dispatched to multiple U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, during Mr. Trump’s second term. 

A suspect who allegedly opened fire on the National Guardsmen has been injured and transported to an area hospital, senior law enforcement officials told CBS News. The suspect’s condition is unknown at this time. 

The Metropolitan Police Department said the crime scene was secured and that a suspect was in custody. 

President Trump has been briefed on the shooting, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. The president is at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation,” Leavitt said in a statement. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said two members of the National Guard were shot. She did not share any details on their conditions.

“Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.,” Noem said in a statement. 

“DHS is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.”