President Trump described the suspected gunman as “an animal” who would pay a very heavy price, as ITV News Correspondent Robert Moore reports
Two West Virginia National Guard members are critically injured after a shooting near the White House in Washington.
It is believed the incident around 2.15pm local time was “targeted”, according to Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The suspected gunman, who was also shot during the incident, is now in police custody.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump said the “animal” responsible “will pay a very steep price”.
The president has ordered another 500 National Guard members to the capital following the shooting, according to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel described the attack as “heinous”, adding that whoever is responsible will be brought to justice.
He said that the shooting will be investigated at a federal level and will be treated as an assault on law enforcement officers, with the FBI leading the investigation.
Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief at the Metropolitan Police Department, said the suspect “came around the corner” and “immediately started firing a firearm” at the National Guard members.
Other National Guard members in the area heard the gunfire, and after “some back and forth” were “able to subdue the individual and bring them into custody,” he said.
Carroll said that officials do not know what weapon was used in the attack.
He also told reporters that “at this point, we have no other suspects”.
National Guard troops from multiple states have been in Washington for months as part of President Donald Trump’s anti-crime crackdown in the nation’s capital, which has since expanded to other cities across the country.
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