D.C. Rain, Guard & Tragedy 🌧️💔

World News

Two National Guard members, both from West Virginia, sustained critical injuries following a shooting in Washington, D.C., less than two blocks from the White House, on Wednesday afternoon. Police identified the incident as a targeted shooting, stating that a lone suspect opened fire on the soldiers before being subdued by other National Guard members who had heard the gunfire. President Donald Trump, who was vacationing in Florida at the time, asserted that the suspect was an Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 and vowed that his administration would ensure the suspect “pays the steepest possible price” for what he described as “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.” Law enforcement sources reported that the suspect was shot four times. The exact weapon used in the assault remains unclear, and investigators have yet to determine a motive; the suspect is not cooperating with authorities. Despite being severely wounded, one of the soldiers is expected to face “the steepest possible price,” as Trump stated on Truth Social. Vice President JD Vance, who was speaking to troops in Kentucky at the time, urged prayer for the victims, calling for “everybody who’s a person of faith” to offer support. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed that both victims were members of his state’s National Guard and succumbed to their injuries.

But shortly after the initial statement, a second was released citing “conflicting reports” regarding the individuals’ condition. The attack prompted a temporary halt at the city’s main airport on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flights through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were briefly grounded. At the scene, shattered glass from a bus stop lay scattered across the pavement, and the intersection was crowded with police cars, armed security personnel, and National Guard troops. A BBC witness reported hearing two initial gunshots, followed by three more, causing people to run in panic and seek shelter in a nearby liquor store. Another witness, filming from his vehicle near the metro station, provided the BBC with footage of two soldiers in uniform receiving medical treatment on the street, while a third individual, identified as the alleged gunman, was also being attended to by medics. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that President Trump had requested the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., stating, “This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C. safe and beautiful.” Currently, nearly 2,200 National Guard troops are stationed in Washington, D.C., including contingents from the District of Columbia, as well as Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama.

A reservist force, activated to provide military support, was deployed to Washington, D.C. in August, a move initiated by then-President Trump to address what he characterized as “out of control” crime within the city. Despite this intervention, overall crime statistics in Washington, D.C., have shown a decline. According to Washington, D.C. police data, there were 62 homicides (including murders) recorded between May 25th and November 25th of this year. This represents a decrease from the 107 homicides recorded during the same period in 2024. Furthermore, police have recorded nearly 6,500 offenses since August 12th, a reduction from the approximately 9,500 offenses recorded during the same timeframe in 2024.