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IFJ-INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALIST BREAKING: Gunshots Erupt as At Least Two National Guard Members Shot in Targeted Attack Near the White House Update: Washington, D.C. Police report that a suspect is in custody. The unidentified suspect was reportedly shot and taken to the hospital. Washington, D.C. – November 26, 2025 Sources familiar with the incident tell ABC News that at least two National Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House on Wednesday evening. One person was critically injured in the attack near 17th Street Northwest and Pennsylvania Avenue, and police launched a heavy response as the suspected gunman remains at large. Eyewitnesses described hearing a rapid series of gunshots echoing through the historic district, followed by chaos as uniformed personnel scrambled for cover. "It was like something out of a movie—bang, bang, bang—and then everyone collapsed," said a resident walking his dog nearby. "Those were soldiers on patrol. Who does this?" The victims, identified by authorities as National Guard troops deployed as part of President Donald Trump's controversial federal security initiative in Washington, D.C., were taken to George Washington University Hospital. Initial reports from the scene indicate that one soldier died on arrival, while the other is fighting for his life in surgery. Their identities have not been released pending notification of relatives. The U.S. Secret Service, which oversees White House security, confirmed the shooting in a brief statement shortly after 8:00 p.m., describing it as an "active shooter incident" involving military personnel. "United Division officers immediately responded to a report of gunfire on the Northwest Border," the agency said. "The area is secure, but the investigation is ongoing. We urge the public to avoid the area." This incident occurred amid growing unrest in the capital. A few days earlier, on November 20, a federal judge ordered an abrupt end to Trump's months-long deployment of more than 2,100 National Guard troops to Washington, ruling it "illegal" and an abuse of presidential power. The decision, which the White House vowed to appeal, stemmed from lawsuits filed by Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups arguing that the mobilization, initially justified as protection against "violent attacks on law enforcement," had devolved into nothing more than patrol and maintenance duties, such as picking up trash on the National Mall. President Trump, who was in the Oval Office at the time of the attack, was briefly evacuated to safety before returning. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he called the victims "American heroes" and reiterated calls for increased military presence in urban areas. The post, which read, "SAD! Two large National Guard soldiers were shot and killed near the People's House. The Radical Left's open borders and soft-on-crime policies are killing the best of us. We WILL NOT allow this! Law and Order NOW!", received more than 500,000 likes within an hour. Law enforcement sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested the attack may be linked to anti-government extremists who oppose the Guard's presence. The suspect is described as a white male in his late 20s and was last seen fleeing on foot wearing a dark hoodie and carrying a semi-automatic rifle. The FBI has joined the manhunt and classified the incident as a potential act of domestic terrorism. A mix of sadness, anger, and speculation erupted on social media. Conservative commentator Kevin Smith, whose video of the chaotic aftermath of the incident quickly went viral, wrote, "We pray for our soldiers—this is what happens when you defund security and embolden the crazy." Others pointed to the recent court ruling, with one user writing, "Democrats have blood on their hands tonight." As the sun set on an already tense city, Washington, D.C., police cordoned off a five-block area. Helicopters buzzed overhead, and additional Guard troops quickly arrived from nearby bases. The Metropolitan Police Department warned of possible intermittent quarantines and urged residents to stay home. The tragedy is the latest in a series of high-profile security breaches near federal landmarks this year and raises new questions about the balance between protection and overreach during Trump's second term. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses. For now, a somber vigil has begun outside the hospital, with flags flown at half-staff in silent tribute to those who served. 17GEN4.com