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Two National Guard members from West Virginia died Wednesday after being shot near the White House in an incident that prompted federal and local authorities to launch a major investigation into an attack on service members patrolling the nation's capital.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed the deaths late Wednesday evening. "These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country," he said in a statement.
The shooting occurred around midday at the corner of 17th and I Streets NW, directly in front of the Club Quarters Hotel, just northwest of the White House complex. One suspect was taken into custody and was also severely wounded, according to President Trump, who said the individual would "pay a very steep price."
The deaths of the two guardsmen mark a rare deadly attack on military personnel operating within the capital. National Guard troops have been patrolling the area around the White House for months as part of heightened security measures in downtown Washington.
FBI Director Kash Patel said his agency was engaged in the investigation alongside local authorities. "FBI is engaged and assisting with the investigation in Washington, D.C. after National Guard members were shot this afternoon," he wrote on social media. "Please pray for them and we will update with more information as we are able."
Attorney General Pam Bondi also weighed in on the incident, calling it a "horrific shooting" and confirming that federal agents were on scene. "PRAY for our DC National Guard," she wrote.
The National Guard said it was working closely with the Metropolitan Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of the shooting. "The health and safety of our service members is our top priority as we continue to support the citizens and visitors of Washington, DC," the organization said in a statement.
President Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the shooting, was briefed on the incident as it unfolded. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was actively monitoring the situation.
In a statement posted to social media, Trump described the suspect in harsh terms and said both guardsmen had been critically wounded before they died. "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded," he wrote. "God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement."
Two witnesses who heard the shooting told reporters they heard approximately two initial shots followed by a rapid barrage of gunfire in quick succession, suggesting an exchange of fire between the suspect and the guardsmen or other law enforcement personnel.
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The incident triggered an overwhelming response from emergency services, with dozens of police vehicles and emergency responders flooding the intersection. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the hotel entrance, where a large group could be seen gathered in front of the building.
Police cordoned off several blocks of 17th Street NW and the surrounding area, creating a wide perimeter around the shooting site. The street closures disrupted traffic in one of Washington's busiest corridors, located in the heart of the federal district just blocks from the White House, the Old Executive Office Building, and numerous other government facilities.
National Guardsmen gathered near the scene of the shooting following the attack on their fellow service members, standing together in a show of solidarity as the investigation continued into the evening.
Authorities have not released information about a possible motive or the identity of the suspect in custody. The Metropolitan Police Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the FBI and other federal agencies.
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