Two West Virginia National Guard Members Shot In Ambush Near White House
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A violent and unprecedented attack unfolded Wednesday afternoon, November 26, 2025, when two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed and shot just blocks from the White House, steps away from the Farragut West Metro station in Northwest D.C.
At scene where two National Guard members were shot in DC pic.twitter.com/EdeiBaFO13
— Phil Stewart (@phildstewart) November 26, 2025
According to law-enforcement officials, the shooting happened around 2:15 p.m. ET when a man — believed to be acting alone — rounded a corner and opened fire on uniformed Guard troops stationed near the busy transit hub. Witnesses say chaos erupted as commuters fled and reinforcements rushed in.
The suspect was shot, tackled, and immediately restrained by nearby National Guard members before being taken into federal custody.
Both victims — one male, one female — were rushed to local hospitals and listed in critical condition. Their names have not yet been released pending family notifications.
D.C. Police Call It a “Targeted Ambush”
During a press briefing, D.C. Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll described the incident as a “brazen ambush” carried out by a lone gunman. Carroll declined to release the shooter’s identity or confirm a motive, citing an active investigation.
The FBI has now taken over primary investigative control, treating the shooting as a potential act of domestic terrorism or politically motivated violence. The agency is digging into the suspect’s background, digital footprint, and possible affiliations.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also called the attack a “targeted shooting,” emphasizing the growing concerns around the increasing militarization of the capital.
Trump Administration Sends 500 More Guard Troops to D.C.
Shortly after the attack, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington, D.C., under direct orders from President Donald J. Trump.
Why The Guard Was Already in D.C.: A Controversial Deployment
The two wounded guardsmen were part of the massive federal Guard deployment launched in August 2025, when the Trump administration sent thousands of troops to major U.S. cities — including the nation’s capital — under a controversial “crime-fighting mission.”
That deployment triggered national backlash from civil-rights groups and local leaders who warned that having military personnel in domestic policing roles could escalate tensions, create unnecessary confrontations and blur the lines between military and civilian authority.
Just weeks ago, a federal judge ruled that the deployment violated D.C.’s self-governance laws, though enforcement of the ruling is currently paused during appeal.
The two injured West Virginia guardsmen remain hospitalized in critical condition as the investigation intensifies.
