Two National Guard members killed in shootout near the White House

Two National Guard members were shot dead in Washington, near the White House, this Wednesday (26). The information of the deaths was confirmed by the governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). Washington police said the shootout occurred one block from the White House and that a suspect was arrested. According to two police sources, the two National Guard members exchanged gunfire with the suspect before being shot. On a post on the Truth Social network, former President Donald Trump stated that the suspect is in critical condition. ‘The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation,’ said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. According to Reuters news agency, a witness reported being in a rideshare car near the White House around 2:15 pm (local time) when they heard two loud bangs and saw small children and other pedestrians running from the scene. They heard someone shouting ‘Help! Help!’ and saw what seemed to be US Secret Service agents chasing after someone wearing a hooded sweatshirt. National Guard troops from several states have been in Washington, D.C., for months as part of the crime crackdown initiated by President Donald Trump in the country’s capital, which has since expanded to other cities. Trump is in Florida due to the Thanksgiving holiday.