Two US National Guard soldiers were shot and critically wounded on Wednesday, two blocks from theWhite House.Police said a suspect had been taken into custody.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, who had earlier announced the two members had died of their injuries,said he was receiving conflicting reports about their condition.
"We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information," Morrisey said in a post on X.
An AFP reporter near the scene said she heard several loud pops that sounded like gunshots, and then saw people running away from Farragut Square, a popular and busy outdoor area near theWhite Houseand a subway station.
Trump, who is inFlorida, was quickly briefed on the "tragic" situation, a spokeswoman said before the shootings were confirmed.
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"The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
Local authorities said that emergency services responded to and transported three gunshot victims from the area.
Secret Service were seen behind yellow police tape, their guns drawn.
"We heard gunshots. We were waiting at the traffic light and there were several shots, Angela Perry, who was in her car with her two children, told AFP.
"You could see National Guard running toward the metro with their weapons drawn," the 42-year-old said.
Trump has sent National Guard troops to Democratic-run Washington, Los Angeles and Memphis to combat crime and help enforce his crackdown on undocumentedmigrants.
Last Thursday a federal judge ruled that Trump's deployment of thousands of National Guard troops in the US capital is unlawful.
His extraordinary domestic use of the Guard was also challenged byCaliforniaearlier this year after the president sent troops to Los Angeles to quell protests sparked by the rounding up of undocumented migrants.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Originally published on France24
