Two National Guardsmen Targeted By Gunman Near White House
Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot Wednesday afternoon near the White House. President Trump was at his Florida resort at the time of the shooting. Governor Patrick Morrisey said on social media the two had died, the backtracked, saying there were “conflicting reports.”
CNN reports that a gunman walked up and targeted the two guardsmen.
The police said a suspect is custody, who was shot and has non-life threatening injuries. Federal charges are expected to follow, and targeted political violence is often considered terrorism.
BIGGER PICTURE
More than 2,000 National Guard troops — from D.C. as well as West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Georgia — have been deployed across the nation’s capital since Trump’s mobilization order in August. They’ve been patrolling Metro stations, tourist areas, and even picking up trash. Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth responded to the shooting, saying the administration will add 500 more troops to D.C. streets.