National Guard members 'ambushed' in Washington, D.C. shooting, police say

2 subject ward members in vital shape after being shot in D.C.

On scene after 2 National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C.

Trump looks to expand military use in U.S. After arming troops in D.C.

National Guard starts patrolling Washington

Trump threatens to send National Guard to more cities

In the wake of the shooting, Trump has ordered U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth to deploy an additional 500 members of the National Guard to the capital city.

This comes despite Trump having claimed just yesterday that his controversial move in August to send in the National Guard and put federal forces in charge of the city’s police department had turned D.C into what he called “a safe zone.”

“We haven't had a murder in six months,” Trump said erroneously. (There have been 24 homicides in the city in the three months since guardsmen were deployed, according to the Metropolitan Police.)

There are currently 2,188 troops deployed in the city, the Associated Press reported today, citing federal government figures.

That was a brisk news conference from the FBI director, the executive assistant chief of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police and Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Although the officials declined to address questions about a possible motive, their description of how the shooting unfolded makes it sound like a direct and targeted attack on National Guard members who were outside the metro station at Farragut Square.

Since moving here in early October, I’ve frequently seen the National Guard posted at metro station entrances, typically in groups of four. They generally look fairly relaxed and often chat with people as they enter and exit the subway system.

As Carroll was finishing responding to one of the last questions from reporters, Patel jumped in to highlight the bravery of the National Guard members and other law enforcement who responded to the shooting and helped bring the suspect into custody.

“We should highlight the fact that the men and women of law enforcement ... Executed their training with great precision today and prevented an even greater tragedy from befalling us,” he said.

The suspect was also shot during the incident and is currently in hospital, Carroll said.

Identifying who shot the suspect is part of the investigation, he said.

Carroll said the investigation is in its preliminary stages.

“We’re looking at all those different aspects but we have no motive at this time,” he said.

Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said the guardsmen were patrolling the area when the suspect came around a corner and opened fired on them.

Other National Guard members in the area were able to subdue the suspect and take him into custody, Carroll said.

At this time, there's no indication there are any other suspects, he said.

Since the shooting victims were federal law enforcement officers, the FBI will be leading the investigation in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, Patel said.

The news conference has just begun.

FBI director Kash Patel told reporters that two members of the National Guard were “brazenly attacked in a horrendous act of violence” and are now in critical condition.

The Metropolitan Police Department will provide an update at a news conference shortly.

The authorities have closed off an area stretching up to two blocks from the reported site of the shooting at 17th and I streets here in D.C.

Most of the media are a block to the east. Right now, I’m at the northern edge of the perimeter at 17th and K, looking across Farragut Square.

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