Washington shooting: What we know about the victims and the shooter | DW News

Key Concepts

• National Guard Deployment: Hundreds of National Guard members are patrolling Washington D.C. following an emergency order by President Trump to address crime and immigration.
• Shooting Incident: Two U.S. military personnel from West Virginia were shot near the White House by a 29-year-old Afghan man, who is also in critical condition.
• Suspect Profile: The shooter is an Afghan national evacuated to the U.S. in 2021 after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• Political Reaction: The incident has drawn strong reactions from both Democrats and Republicans, with President Trump calling for a review of Afghan evacuees and vowing consequences for the shooter.
• Investigation Status: The motive for the attack is currently unknown, and authorities are treating it as a targeted attack against National Guard members.

Shooting Incident Near White House

On the day before Thanksgiving, two U.S. military personnel from West Virginia were critically injured after being shot just a few blocks from the White House. The suspect, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan man who was evacuated to the United States in 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, is also in critical condition. The incident occurred around 2:30 PM local time near a metro station in downtown Washington D.C.

Suspect and Attack Details

The shooter approached National Guard members who were guarding the Farragut West Metro Station and opened fire. A second National Guard member present responded to the attack. All three individuals involved – the two National Guard members and the shooter – were transported to the hospital. Initially, the governor of West Virginia confirmed the deaths of the two National Guard members, but later retracted this information due to conflicting reports. The FBI Director and the Mayor of Washington D.C. have stated that this was a targeted attack against the National Guard members deployed to the U.S. capital.

National Guard Presence and Political Response

Hundreds of National Guard members have been deployed to Washington D.C. following an emergency order by President Donald Trump aimed at cracking down on crime and immigration. President Trump has since ordered an additional 500 Guardsmen to the capital. He has also called for a review of the tens of thousands of other Afghans who entered the U.S. under the Biden administration's program.

President Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social account, referring to the shooter as an "animal" and stating that he would "pay a very steep price." He also declared, "We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden. And we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country. If they can't love our country, we don't want them."

The incident has elicited condemnation and shock from both Democrats and Republicans. The White House Press Secretary confirmed that President Trump, who was at Mar-a-Lago, was briefed on the situation. Defense Secretary Pete Buttigieg also stated that additional National Guard members would be sent to D.C. The National Guard members present in D.C. are not only from the District of Columbia but also from other states, guarding various metro stations and tourist locations.

Investigation and Motive

As of the reporting, the motive behind the shooting remains unknown. The Director of the FBI and the Mayor of Washington D.C. were cautious in their statements regarding possible motives during a briefing, emphasizing that the investigation is ongoing. The crime scene has been cordoned off, and authorities expect to release more information in the coming days. Journalists at the scene posed follow-up questions, but officials indicated that further details would be provided after the investigation progresses.

Conclusion

The shooting incident near the White House involving U.S. military personnel and an Afghan national has triggered significant political reactions and heightened security concerns in Washington D.C. The deployment of additional National Guard troops and President Trump's call for a review of Afghan evacuees underscore the sensitive nature of the event, which is currently under active investigation with the motive yet to be determined.