Two US National Guard members shot near White House, conditions unclear, suspect in custody
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The news: Two members of the West Virginia National Guard in the US were shot near the White House on Wednesday, in an incident that drew a heavy emergency response and prompted a brief lockdown of the White House.
Governor Patrick Morrisey said there were “conflicting reports” about the soldiers’ conditions and that more information would be provided once available. Minutes earlier, Morrisey had posted on social media he could “confirm both members” had passed away from their injuries.
“Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community,” he said in the latest post.
The context: The shooting occurred about two blocks from the White House, according to media reports. A suspect was also shot and is in custody, according to officials cited by The Associated Press. The agency reported that one of the guardsmen was shot in the head, citing a person familiar with the details.
The soldiers were among about 180 National Guard members from West Virginia deployed to Washington as part of an ongoing federal mobilisation ordered by Donald Trump in August.
A federal judge last week ruled that deployment violated several laws, but delayed enforcement of the decision until 11 December.
Trump said in a social media post that the “animal that shot” the two guardsmen was “severely wounded” and would “pay a very steep price.”
The sources: The Associated Press, Patrick Morrisey, Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters
