Heightened security fears gripped the US capital on Wednesday after two National Guard personnel were shot near the Farragut Metro Station, prompting an immediate lockdown of the White House and surrounding federal buildings.
Authorities in Washington said emergency teams rushed to the scene moments after the shooting, with the DC Metropolitan Police urging residents to steer clear of the affected area.
Reports from USA Today indicated that the Main Treasury Building, Freedman’s Bank headquarters, and several other government facilities were also sealed off as a precaution.
Earlier statements from West Virginia Governor Patrick Morsey suggested that the servicemen had died from their injuries, a message that stirred widespread alarm across state and federal circles.
In his initial post on X, the governor expressed sorrow and claimed both guardsmen had “passed away,” praising their service and demanding accountability for what he described as a horrific act.
Hours later, Morsey reversed course, saying he had received new information that contradicted the earlier update. He promised to release accurate details once authorities confirmed the soldiers’ conditions.
According to him, the state government is now awaiting clearer medical reports while offering prayers to the families and colleagues of the affected guardsmen.
From the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump had been briefed and that senior officials were closely following developments.
She said the administration was “actively monitoring the tragic situation,” though further details were not immediately provided.
National Guard troops have been stationed across Washington DC for several months under Trump’s anti-crime directive, a move that has drawn criticism from several state governors.
Opponents of the deployment argue that sending troops into the nation’s capital has worsened tensions and escalated political divisions, describing the action as unnecessary and provocative.
