Critical Injuries: Lone Gunman Opens Fire on White House Guards, Afghan Migrant in Custody

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A shocking incident unfolded near the White House on Wednesday when two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot, leaving them in critical condition. The suspect, identified as an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021, has been taken into custody after an exchange of gunfire with the guards. According to the FBI and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, the shooting occurred around 2:15 pm near the 17th and I streets metro station, just two blocks away from the White House. The suspect was shot but suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but authorities have confirmed that it was a targeted shooting. The suspect 'came around the corner' and opened fire on the guards, said DC Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll. The attack triggered chaos in the area, with nearby streets cordoned off and the White House and Treasury Department put on lockdown. The US President, Donald Trump, was not in Washington DC at the time of the shooting but has since vowed to take action against the suspect, describing them as an 'animal'. In response to the incident, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth announced that President Trump has ordered the deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington DC. The West Virginia Governor, Patrick Morrisey, initially reported that the guards had died, but later retracted the statement, saying they were receiving conflicting reports about the condition of the two Guard members. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with DC Police and federal law enforcement working together to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. The suspect is currently in custody, and the case is expected to be closely monitored in the coming days.