A member of the U.S. National Guard has died following a shooting incident near the White House, President Donald Trump confirmed.
The deceased is a 20-year-old woman serving in the National Guard from West Virginia. A male colleague, 24, was also shot and is currently in critical condition.
“She was viciously attacked and has died,” Trump said, describing the incident.
According to authorities, the attack occurred Wednesday afternoon near a metro station close to the White House. Law enforcement officials reported that the suspect was neutralized by other National Guard members and taken into custody before being hospitalized for medical treatment.
The suspect, a 29-year-old Afghan national residing in Washington State, reportedly traveled to the capital to carry out the attack. He used a handgun during the incident and faces charges that could result in up to 15 years in prison, according to Jeanine Pirro, Attorney for the District of Columbia. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
Washington, D.C. Police Department Deputy Chief Jeffrey Carroll confirmed the suspect’s arrest, while President Trump described the shooting as an “act of terror.”
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant in the area while security measures around federal buildings remain heightened.
