2 National Guard soldiers shot in ‘targeted’ attack near White House

Two members of the National Guard were shot on Wednesday in a busy area near the White House in downtown Washington, officials said, putting the building into lockdown with US President Donald Trump away in Florida.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially said in a social media post that both victims were members of his state’s National Guard and had died from their injuries, but he soon posted a second statement citing “conflicting reports” about their condition.

Trump administration official said the suspected shooter had been transported to a hospital with gunshot wounds. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.

Trump is at his resort in Palm Beach ahead of Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday, while US Vice-President J.D. Vance is in Kentucky.

In a social media post, Trump called the suspected shooter an “animal” who would “pay a very steep price” and praised the National Guard.

It was not clear how the suspect had been injured, but CNN reported the two guard members engaged the attacker in gunfire before they were shot.