National Guard Members Shot Near White House; Shooter in Custody
Washington D.C. – Two members of the national Guard were injured in a shooting near Farragut Square in Washington D.C. on november 26th, an area located just blocks from the White House. The shooter was seriously injured and is now in custody, according to President Donald Trump.
Initial reports from two security sources indicate a gunfight occured between the guardsmen and the suspect prior to the guardsmen being hit. the area surrounding the shooting was immediately secured by law enforcement, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was temporarily closed. The White House was also placed on lockdown, despite President Trump being in Florida at the time. Videos of the shooting circulated on social media as police established a crime scene.
Authorities have identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the United States in September 2021 as part of a programme initiated by President Joe Biden following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. this program facilitated the evacuation and resettlement of approximately 76,000 Afghans, many of whom had worked with US forces as interpreters and translators.
The motive for the shooting remains unknown, and investigators believe the suspect acted alone.
Following the incident, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an indefinite suspension of all immigration cases involving Afghan nationals, stating the protection and security of the nation is their primary concern.
In response to the shooting, President Trump has directed Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington D.C. This adds to the hundreds of National Guard members already patrolling the city following a previous order from President Trump in August to bolster security and bring in guardsmen from eight states.
President Trump responded to the shooting with a statement, calling it “a heinous act of evil, an act of hate, and an act of terror,” and called for a re-vetting of all Afghans who entered the contry under the biden management.
Sources: Reuters, CNN, Associated Press (AP), NBC News, CBS News, X (formerly Twitter).
