Two National Guard soldiers 'in critical condition' after being shot near White House with Afghan suspect in custody
Officials said the two guards had died but later retracted that statement saying there'd been 'conflicting reports'
Two National Guard members are in critical condition after they were shot near the White House.
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During a press briefing, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the armed Guardsmen are in a local hospital.
The suspect, who was shot during the incident has also been taken to hospital.
He has now been named as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, whose last known location was in Bellingham, Washington.
Local media reports that he is an Afghan national.
Authorities declared the incident was a "targeted shooting" but did not comment on motive.
NBC reported that the FBI will initially investigate the shooting as a possible act of terrorism, two senior U.S. law enforcement officials said.
West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey earlier suggested on social media they'd died but later said there'd been "conflicting reports".
"We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continues," he said.
One of the National Guard members was shot in the head, according to a person familiar with the details of the incident who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Emergency medical responders transported all three victims to a hospital, according to Vito Maggiolo, the public information officer for the Washington DC fire and emergency services.
The Joint DC Task Force confirmed they responded to the incident after reports of the shooting on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police Department also said they were on scene.
The shooting happened at the corner of 17th and H Streets in the north-west quadrant of the city.
Police tape cordoned off the scene where emergency fire and police vehicles' lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead.
Agents from the US Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on scene, as National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.
US President Donald Trump, who is in Florida celebrating Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the "animal" who shot the guardsmen "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," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!".
The presence of the National Guard in the nation's capital has been a flashpoint issue for months, fuelling a court fight and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration's use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer wrote on social media that he was "closely monitoring" the shooting and that his "heart breaks for the victims of this horrific shooting".
“I want everybody who's a person of faith to say a prayer for those two National Guardsmen that they're able to spend Thanksgiving with their families instead of losing their lives, because I understand they’re still in pretty tough condition,” Vice President JD Vance said.
Critical Incident: MPD is on the scene of a shooting at 17th and I Street, NW. Please avoid the area. Updates to come.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) November 26, 2025
A spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser said that local leaders were actively monitoring the situation.
Ms Bowser had spent the morning at a Thanksgiving event at the Convention Centre and then held a press conference to explain why she was not seeking re-election.
Mr Trump issued an emergency order in August that federalised the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia.
The order expired a month later but the troops remained.
The soldiers have patrolled neighbourhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and have also been assigned to rubbish pickup and to guard sports events.
The President has reportedly asked for 500 more National Guard trooped to be deployed to the capital city as a response to the shooting.
“This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington DC safe and beautiful,” he said.
Last week, a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision.