Washington (Somalia Today) — Two West Virginia National Guard members deployed to Washington were shot on Wednesday just blocks from the White House, in an attack that has reignited debate over the use of soldiers to police the US capital.
A suspect, who was also wounded in an exchange of gunfire, is in custody.
The shooting occurred in a heavily patrolled zone roughly two blocks northwest of the presidential residence. The area has been the focal point of a months-long dispute between the Trump administration and local District of Columbia officials.
The incident marks a grim escalation in the controversy surrounding the extended deployment of National Guard troops, which critics have called an overreach of executive power.
Violence in a secured Zone
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially stated that the two soldiers had died but later retracted the confirmation, citing “conflicting reports” regarding their condition.
Law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage that appears to show the suspect approaching the soldiers before drawing a weapon.
At least one soldier fired back. Investigators are examining whether the attackers targeted the troops because of their uniforms or their presence in the capital, but the motive remains unclear.
The shooting unfolded as the city prepared for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“It’s such a beautiful day. Who would do this?” asked witness Stacy Walters, who described hearing two gunshots before law enforcement swarmed the glass-covered sidewalk where first responders treated the wounded.
A deployment in legal limbo
The violence comes just days after a major legal blow to the mission.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the Trump administration’s continued use of National Guard troops for domestic policing in D.C. was unlawful, arguing it exceeded statutory authority.
However, Judge Cobb issued a 21-day stay on her own order, allowing the administration time to appeal while keeping the troops on the streets.
The deployment began in August under an emergency order issued by President Donald Trump, effectively federalizing the local police force and surging troops from eight states into the District to combat what the White House termed an out-of-control crime wave.
While the initial order expired in September, the troops have remained, patrolling train stations, staffing checkpoints, and even guarding sporting events.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has been a vocal critic, arguing that the indefinite presence of out-of-state soldiers violates the District’s limited sovereignty.
Following the recent court ruling, Schwalb reiterated that “normalizing the use of military troops for domestic law enforcement sets a dangerous precedent.”Â
Political shockwaves
President Trump, currently in Florida, responded with characteristic sharpness on Truth Social, warning that the “animal” responsible would pay a “steep price.”
“God bless our Great National Guard… I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!“ Trump wrote.
Vice President JD Vance, addressing troops in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, cast the soldiers as the “sword and shield“ of the nation, urging prayers for the wounded.
Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has navigated a tense relationship with the federal administration, said local leaders were actively monitoring the situation.
The shooting occurred shortly after Bowser held a press conference to explain her decision not to seek reelection, a move some analysts attribute to the strain of governing under intense federal intervention.
Unresolved questions
As federal agents from the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) process the scene, the core question of the deployment’s future remains unanswered.
The West Virginia contingent, numbering more than 300, was initially set to withdraw earlier but had its mission extended by volunteers.
With the 21-day legal window ticking down and violence now touching the troops directly, the administration faces heightened pressure to justify the continued military footprint in the capital’s streets.
