WASHINGTON — Two National Guard members are in critical condition after they were shot in what officials described as a "targeted" ambush near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

The victims, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were "ambushed" by a lone gunman outside a subway station in the heart of the nation's capital, Jeffery Caroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack a "targeted shooting."

The guardsmen were part of a "high-visibility patrol" at around 2:15 p.m. ET near the corner of 17th and I streets, about two blocks from the White House, when the shooting occurred, officials said. The suspect, who was in custody, was also shot and subdued by other guardsmen nearby.

The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, but officials said the suspect appeared to have acted alone. The identities of the suspect and the victims have not been made public.

"Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition, and their families," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation's capital."

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey had earlier erroneously reported the troops had died.

The White House was locked down after the shooting. President Donald Trump is at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Thanksgiving holiday. In a social media post, Trump called the suspect an "animal," and the Pentagon prepared to deploy 500 additional Guard troops to the capital in response to the shooting.

The shooting comes as thousands of troops have been deployed for months across Washington, D.C., as part of Trump's efforts to combat crime in the nation's capital.

Lone gunman ‘ambushed’ National Guard: DC police

At an evening news conference at the scene of the shooting, Bowser called the incident a "targeted shooting."

Jeffery Caroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said there’s no indication the gunman had assistance from anyone else.

“At this point, we have no other suspects,” he said. “It appears to be a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard and was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members and law enforcement members.”

Carroll said the suspect was shot during the interaction and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

— Joey Garrison

FBI director: National Guard troops in 'critical condition'

Patel said Wednesday that the two National Guard troops who were shot just blocks from the White House are in "critical condition."

"Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition and their families," Patel said. "They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation's capital."

The guardsmen are being treated at a local hospital, said Jeff Carroll, executive assistant chief at the Metropolitan Police Department.

– Rebecca Morin

Unclear who shot the National Guard ambush suspect

The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members was subdued by other Guard members in the area, according to D.C. police executive assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll.

“They heard the gunfire, they actually were able to intervene and to kind of hold down the suspect after he had been shot on the ground until law enforcement got there within moments,” Carroll said.

Police are still investigating who shot the suspect, Carroll said. Officials said they do not believe any other suspects were involved in the shooting.

— Zac Anderson

Officials react to shooting: 'We stand united in condemning violence'

Federal, state, and local officials across the country condemned the shooting on Wednesday. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who earlier this year brought the district’s lawsuit over the Guard deployment, said "violence is never the answer and must be swiftly condemned by all."

"The National Guard are volunteers. They sign up to leave their regular jobs and families at a moment’s notice to serve their country," Schwalb said in a statement on social media. "This is a heartbreaking day for DC and our nation. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and fellow Guardsmen."

House Speaker Mike Johnson called for prayers for the guardsmen, saying the "National Guard has done heroic work this year working around the clock to make our nation’s capital safe again."

"We are forever grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement and for all those who risk their own lives to protect everyone else," Johnson said in a statement on social media.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the chair of the National Governors Association, and the vice-chair, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, offered their prayers to the families of wounded troops.

“We stand united in condemning violence in all forms,” the governor said in a statement. "We urge all Americans to join together in the spirit of peace and unity."

— Thao Nguyen and Bart Jansen

Patel says the FBI will lead investigation

Patel said the FBI will “lead out” on the investigation into the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.

Patel said the FBI will work with the D.C. police, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies on the investigation. “We have assembled the full force of both the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies,” Patel said.

— Zac Anderson

West Virginia governor cites ‘conflicting reports’ after previously declaring both victims dead

After previously announcing that both National Guard troops were killed, Morrisey cited “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. Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community," the governor said in a statement.

Morrisey, a Republican, took office in January. Before becoming governor, Morrisey served as the state’s attorney general.

After being elected in 2012, he was West Virginia’s first Republican attorney general to serve the state in almost 80 years – since 1933. Morrisey was the Republican candidate in the 2018 Senate race against then-Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat. Manchin defeated Morrisey in that race.

Two National Guard troops who were from West Virginia were shot blocks from the White House on Wednesday. Morrisey said the condition of the troops was unclear after initially declaring them dead in a statement posted on X.

— Joey Garrison and Rebecca Morin

Crime scene in the heart of the capital

Yellow police tape blocked off Washington's Farragut Square, near the scene of the shooting, which took place about two blocks from the White House. The square was decorated with red holiday bows and faux pine garland.

The normally bustling street corner at 17th and I Street NW in Washington, D.C. was emptied in a hurry. A city bus and at least a dozen vehicles were parked inside the security perimeter.

— Francesca Chambers

Trump to deploy 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration is deploying an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following the shooting of two guard members.

"This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington DC safe and beautiful," Hegseth told reporters.

Nearly 2,200 National Guard troops are currently in Washington, D.C., after Trump launched his crime crackdown in the nation’s capital in August.

— Joey Garrison

Judge recently ruled National Guard deployment unlawful

The Trump administration's efforts to deploy the National Guard to enforce order in primarily Democratic-leaning cities has met significant legal resistance.

In addition to the nation's capital, Trump also deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, Oregon to aid local authorities in combatting protests against immigration enforcement. Governors and mayors in California, Oregon and Illinois are fighting Trump’s deployments in federal court, leading the administration to scale back some missions.

A federal judge on Nov. 20 ruled that the National Guard mission in D.C. was illegal because it supplanted Mayor Muriel Bowser's authority over law enforcement without her consent.

But U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb paused her ruling until Dec. 11 in order to permit time for the administration to appeal and prepare to end the mission if it is upheld.

--Bart Jansen and Davis Winkie

Guardsmen were shot near DC subway station

The National Guard task force for the D.C. deployment provided additional details about the shooting in a statement released just after 4:15 p.m. local time.

"Early in the afternoon on Wednesday, November 26, two Joint Task Force – DC service members were involved in a shooting near the Farragut West Metro Station," said spokesperson Tech Sgt. Melissa Sterling in an emailed statement to USA TODAY.

Sterling said the Guard is working "closely with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other law enforcement agencies."

Her statement did not address the condition of the two troops who were shot.

− Davis Winkie

More than 400 West Virginia troops deployed in DC

West Viriginia, the home state of the shot guard members, is one of seven states providing National Guard troops to D.C. for Trump’s crime crackdown.

There were approximately 420 members of the West Virginia National Guard in D.C. as of Nov. 12, but those numbers have recently fallen to 180. The task force's other 2,100 troops come from D.C., Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana and South Carolina.

- Davis Winkie and Joey Garrison

VP Vance says soldiers are ‘sword and the shield’ of US after shooting

Vice President JD Vance called for prayers for the National Guard troops who were shot just blocks from the White House.

During remarks to U.S. troops at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Vance said that officials do not know the motive and said the troops shot were in “pretty tough condition.”

“It's a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they're active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vance said. “And as a person who goes into work every single day in that building and knows that there are a lot of people who wear the uniform of the United States Army, let me just say very personally, thank them for what they're doing. We're grateful to them.”

– Rebecca Morin

White House locked down after shooting

The shooting prompted officials to lock down multiple government buildings, including the White House.

Government officials ordered all personnel at the Main Treasury and Freedman's Bank Building to lock down.

It was not immediately known whether any other government buildings or nearby businesses were also under lockdown.

- Natalie Neysa Alund

Shooting two blocks from White House

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the shooting in a statement, which took place just before 2:30 p.m. ET at 17th and I Street next to Farragut Square Park, about two blocks from the White House.

"Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.," Noem said, adding that her department is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.

Trump calls shooting suspect an 'animal'

President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the two guard members are "critically wounded" and were transferred to separate hospitals. He called the suspect an "animal,” adding that the individual is “severely wounded” and will “pay a very steep price."

"God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!" Trump said.

Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago resort home in Palm Beach, Florida, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

FBI assisting with investigation into DC National Guard shooting

The FBI is engaged and assisting with the investigation into the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House, said the agency’s director Kash Patel.

“FBI is engaged and assisting with the investigation in Washington, D.C. after National Guard members were shot this afternoon,” Patel said in a post on X. “Please pray for them and we will update with more information as we are able.”

Video posted on social media showed Patel on site at the scene of the shooting.

– Rebecca Morin

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two National Guard members 'critical' after shooting in DC: updates

Reporting by Joey Garrison, Davis Winkie, Rebecca Morin and Zac Anderson, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect