Two US National Guard troops shot to death in Washington, DC: Governor

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed that two members of the US National Guard were killed in a shooting that occurred close to the White House.

As the investigation into the shooting on Wednesday unfolds, Morrisey stated in a social media post that he is still in contact with federal officials in the US capital.

We regret to inform both West Virginia National Guard members who were both shot earlier today in Washington, DC of their deaths, according to Morrisey.

He continued, “These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country.” West Virginia’s “we will demand full responsibility for this horrific act,” and they will never forget what they did or gave up.

US President Donald Trump made a “very steep price” promise to the offender on his online platform Truth Social.

Trump wrote in his post that “the animal that shot the two National Guardsmen will pay a very steep price,” with both of them suffering from critical injuries and now being treated in two different hospitals.

God bless our nation’s elite, our military, and law enforcement, among others. These people are truly outstanding. I support you in my capacity as President of the United States, along with everyone who works in the Office of the Presidency.

Trump was not present at the White House when the shooting occurred. He had left for Mar-a-Lago to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday there.

The motives for the shooting are still undetermined. Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, stated that her office is collaborating with other law enforcement organizations to conduct an investigation.

Noem pleaded with the public to pray for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot in Washington, DC, on September 22.

After the shooting that occurred downtown, close to the White House, one suspect was taken into custody, according to local police.

The police initially advised people to avoid the shooting site, but later claimed the location had been “secured” for the time being.

Rosiland Jordan, a journalist from Washington, DC, noted the intense security presence at the shooting site.

“We’re seeing a lot of DC police, a lot of the Secret Service, uniformed agents, National Guard personnel all circling a perimeter around the Farragut West metro station,” Jordan said.

A state-based unit that makes up the US military is known as the National Guard. In their states, governors can use them to deal with local emergencies, most notably natural disasters.

In a campaign that he claimed aims to combat crime in the nation’s capital, Trump sent federal troops, including National Guard soldiers, to Washington in August.

The National Guard has been patrolling neighborhoods and transportation hubs in small, three to five-person groups since their deployment.

According to a federal judge’s ruling last week, Jia Cobb, Trump had overstepped the bounds of the executive branch’s authority to suspend the National Guard’s deployment in the capital.

The president had been accused of using National Guard personnel for domestic law enforcement in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878.

However, Cobb’s decision to suspend the National Guard deployment has been halted for 21 days to give the Trump administration time to file an appeal.

Trump, a Republican, has attempted to expand federal forces’ reach in other Democratic-run cities, which has led to legal disputes and political opposition.

The Washington, DC shooting was condemned by lawmakers from both major parties on Wednesday.

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed his condolences for the injured members of the National Guard during X.

Source: Aljazeera