Two West Virginia National Guard members were critically wounded after being shot near the White House. Officials have described the attack as a “targeted shooting”.United States President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as a “heinous assault” and “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror”.Recommended Stories list of 1 itemend of listThe shooting occurred just one day before the Thanksgiving holiday in a busy tourist area.Here is what to know about the shooting, the alleged attacker, and what’s next:What happened in Washington, DC?Police say a lone suspect opened fire on a National Guard member at about 2:15pm local time (19:15 GMT).The suspect, who was also shot during the confrontation, was taken to a hospital for treatment and remains under police custody.“It appears to be a lone gunman who raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief, told reporters.According to a CNN report, the suspect walked up to three National Guard members who appeared unaware of him until he opened fire. He shot one guard, then another, before standing over the first victim and appearing to attempt another shot. At that point, the third guardsman returned fire.Trump was in Florida at the time of the incident.Approximately 2,200 National Guard members have been deployed across the US capital, including 925 from the DC National Guard and more than 1,200 from other states. Law enforcement officers secure the area after a shooting in downtown Washington, DC, November 26, 2025 [AFP]What is the National Guard?The National Guard is a reserve branch of the US military that can be called up during emergencies at home, such as natural disasters or civil unrest, and can also suppo …
