The injured troops remain in critical condition, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“Since this is an assault on a federal law enforcement officer, this will be treated at the federal level as an assault on a federal law enforcement officer,” Patel said. He was joined by Metropolitan Police Department executive assistant chief Jeff Carroll and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who described the shooting as “targeted.”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R-WV) initially reported that both guard members had succumbed to their injuries but later retracted his statement, saying they are “receiving conflicting reports.” 

The shooting placed the White House on lockdown, an official told the Washington Examiner. Officials are “actively monitoring this tragic situation,” according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance was in Washington at the time of the shooting.

Trump responded to the arrest of the alleged shooter: “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.”

“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!” he concluded.

Vance, at a Thanksgiving celebration with Army soldiers in Kentucky, opened his remarks with prayers for the soldiers.

“We’re still learning everything. We still don’t know the motive. There’s a lot that we haven’t yet figured out, but what we do know is that a couple of national guardsmen were injured in the line of duty, and first of all, I want everybody who’s a person of faith to say a prayer for those two national guardsmen that they’re able to spend Thanksgiving with their families instead of losing their lives,” he said.

“I think 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,” he added. “We’re praying that they’re going to be safe and they’re going to spend Thanksgiving with their families.”

The Secret Service, National Guard, and MPD were on the scene at Farragut West around 2:42 p.m.

“Critical Incident: MPD is on the scene of a shooting at 17th and I Street, NW,” MPD wrote on X. “Please avoid the area. Updates to come.” The department later added that it secured the scene and had a suspect in custody.

“The reason that this suspect is in custody is because of the bravery of the men and women of the National Guard who responded due to their extensive training to secure American lives,” Patel told reporters. “Today, there was not any further injury and any further shootings.”

The FBI is “engaged and assisting” with the investigation, Patel wrote on X. Attorney General Pam Bondi asked for prayers for the National Guard members.

At least one other government building, the U.S. Treasury, was reportedly under an active shooter lockdown. A ground stop was issued at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, about 5 miles away from the White House, but was later lifted.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that two National Guard members had been shot. “Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.,” she wrote on X.

Nurse Stacey Walters, 43, heard the shooting and was in the area when it happened. She described the shots as a “boom, boom. Two boom-booms.”

“I didn’t think shooting — it’s a holiday, and it was so beautiful [outside],” she told reporters.

FEDERAL JUDGE RULES TRUMP’S DC NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT UNLAWFUL

National Guard members have been deployed for weeks to protect Washington at the direction of Trump. Their orders had been to protect the city at least through February.

The administration is currently engaged in a legal battle with the district’s attorney general over the troops. A judge recently ruled that they were deployed illegally and halted the mobilization. The judge said there were more than “2,000 National Guard troops” every day in the city.