What to know about shooting of 2 National Guard members in D.C.
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Two National Guard soldiers and a Department of Homeland Security agent at the scene of the shooting in Washington, D.C., near the White House on Nov. 26. Photo: Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot in Washington, D.C., in an ambush-style attack near the White House on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
The big picture: Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries a day later and colleague Andrew Wolfe, 24, was "fighting for his life" after they were "shot at point-blank range" by an Afghan national, President Trump said.
State of play: The shooting happened about 2:15pm ET near the Farragut West metro station, about a five-minute walk north of the White House.
- Washington Metropolitan Police Department executive assistant chief Jeffrey Carroll said the National Guard members were armed at the time of the shooting.
- The D.C. Police Department declared the scene to be safe about 3pm ET and said one suspect was in custody.
Zoom in: Trump on said on Truth Social the suspect was also "severely wounded" during the attack and will "pay a very steep price."
- Trump has previously called for the death penalty for murders in D.C.
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the act of violence a "targeted shooting" by one individual.
- The FBI is assisting with the ongoing investigation, Patel said on X.
What we know about the suspect: Trump said in his address that the 29-year-old suspect was "flown in by the Biden administration" in a September 2021 refugee program.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X Wednesday night that the suspect had arrived in the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2021, following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- She said he arrived under then-President Biden's "Operation Allies Welcome" program, which was designed to support vulnerable Afghan refugees.
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Axios on Thursday that the suspect entered the U.S. after working with the CIA and other U.S. government agencies during the war.
Zoom out: The Trump administration on Wednesday night indefinitely paused processing immigration requests from Afghan nationals with immediate effect.
- A day later, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the president ordered the review of every green card holder from 19 countries of concern.
What we're watching: Hegseth told reporters earlier on Wednesday that Trump requested 500 additional National Guard members be sent to the nation's capital to keep D.C. "safe and beautiful."
- "We have received the request and will rapidly execute" what Trump asked for, an Army official told Axios.
By the numbers: Nearly 2,200 National Guard troops were deployed in D.C. as of Tuesday, including 180 from West Virginia.
What they're saying: West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially announced on X that both Guard members had died. But 20 minutes later he said he was receiving "conflicting reports" about the Guard members' conditions.
- "We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continues," Morrisey said. "Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community."
- Trump, who left the White House Tuesday evening to celebrate Thanksgiving at his Palm Beach home and was not present during the time of the shooting, paid tribute to the National Guard members in a Wednesday afternoon Truth Social post:
More from Axios:
- National Guard shooting in D.C. draws condemnation from Trump, lawmakers
- Trump wants another 500 National Guard in D.C. after shooting near White House
- Trump admin cracks down on Afghan immigrants after National Guard shooting
- Trump files emergency appeal to keep National Guard in D.C. after shooting
Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout, including Gov. Patrick Morrisey's statement that he had received conflicting reports about the Guard members' condition.
