WASHINGTON — Two members of the West Virginia National Guard are in critical condition following a shooting described by officials as a "targeted ambush" near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. ET at the intersection of 17th and I streets, close to a metro station.

The shooting involved an unidentified male suspect who approached the guardsmen while they were on patrol and opened fire. The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. He was also shot during the incident and is currently in police custody. The exact circumstances surrounding his injury remain unclear, as law enforcement officials are still investigating who fired the shots that hit him.

Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll stated that the guardsmen were ambushed by a lone gunman. "It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard," Carroll said. The guardsmen, a man and a woman, were quickly taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed the shooting was a targeted attack. "Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition, and their families," said FBI Director Kash Patel. The identities of the injured guardsmen have not been released.

Initially, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey reported that both guardsmen had died from their injuries. However, he later retracted that statement, citing conflicting information about their conditions. "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.

The White House was placed on lockdown following the shooting, but the lockdown was lifted around 5 p.m. ET. President Donald Trump, who is currently in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, has been briefed on the situation. In a social media post, he condemned the attack, calling the suspect an "animal" and expressing support for the National Guard.

The shooting has prompted a response from multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals, which are conducting a joint investigation. The motive for the attack remains unclear, but officials are treating it as a potential act of terrorism.

In light of the incident, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the shooting as a "cowardly, dastardly act" and emphasized the need for increased security in the capital.

Witnesses reported a chaotic scene, with one bystander describing hearing gunfire and seeing guardsmen attempting to resuscitate their injured colleagues. "I wanted to cry," said one witness who was nearby when the shooting occurred.

As the investigation continues, officials are urging the public to avoid the area around the Farragut West Metro station, where the shooting took place. Roads in the vicinity have been closed as law enforcement conducts their investigation. This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.