The FBI director, Kash Patel, told reporters that both National Guardsmen shot near the White House are alive and in critical condition, and he vowed the federal government will lead a full investigation. Conflicting early reports about fatalities circulated, but federal and local law enforcement are treating the attack as a serious national security incident and have one suspect in custody. Patel praised local partners and asked Americans to pray for the wounded guardsmen and their families. The situation remains fluid as investigators work to uncover motive and bring the perpetrator to justice.
Kash Patel spoke plainly in a late-afternoon briefing, describing a sudden attack on uniformed National Guard members who were performing their duty in the capital. “At approximately 2:15 local time in Washington, D.C., where two of our brave members of National Guard and the Department of War were brazenly attacked in a horrendous act of violence,” Patel said. “They were shot. They’re in critical condition.” He repeated that message several times to make sure there was no confusion about the status of the soldiers.
Early reports from other officials suggested a different outcome, and that confusion spread fast on social media and from local sources. One post from a state official claimed the Guardsmen had “have passed away from their injuries,” which Patel directly contradicted at the podium. That kind of mixed messaging matters in a breaking incident, and Patel used the platform to reestablish the official federal account of events and to demand calm while investigators do their work.
Patel made clear that federal resources are focused on both finding the offender and ensuring this does not signal a wider threat to the public. “We have assembled the full force of both the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies to … make sure we find the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act, and make no mistake, they will be brought to justice,” Patel said, framing the response as decisive and coordinated. He listed the agencies involved to underscore the seriousness: FBI leading with Department of Homeland Security, ATF, Secret Service, and DEA among partners.
The Metropolitan Police Department also briefed the press, with Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll echoing that the wounded Guardsmen were receiving hospital care. Carroll confirmed that there is currently only one suspect in custody and that investigators are reviewing footage showing a lone gunman. He added that authorities had no clear motive at the time and that both Guardsmen were armed when they were attacked.
From a conservative, security-first perspective, Patel’s visible leadership matters. When our capital is directly assaulted, we need quick, competent federal action, direct communication, and an insistence that those who attack law enforcement will be pursued vigorously. That tone was evident in Patel’s remarks, and it’s the kind of posture voters expect from officials charged with protecting national institutions and the people who defend them.
Patel also publicly thanked the mayor and local law enforcement for their cooperation and emphasized law enforcement skill in handling violent crime scenes and investigations. He singled out the MPD for its “skills in investigating homicides and gun shootings in this city” while stressing that the FBI will lead the federal effort. That mix of praise and federal oversight signals a unified front meant to reassure the public as the probe continues.
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The suspect was reportedly subdued quickly by other Guardsmen and law enforcement, which prevented further immediate harm and allowed authorities to take one person into custody. Video evidence appears to show the attack was sudden and directed at those in uniform, which is being treated as an assault on federal personnel and a national security concern. Patel repeatedly called on the public to support the wounded and their families in prayer while the investigation moves forward.
Investigators are still piecing together motive, timeline, and any possible connections the attacker might have had to broader threats. Officials stressed that definitive answers will come only after thorough forensics, witness interviews, and interagency coordination. In the meantime, federal agencies are committed to seeing this through to arrests and prosecutions, and Patel made that commitment clear in his remarks.
At the close of his briefing, Patel asked Americans to keep the wounded Guardsmen in mind and to recognize the service they provide in the nation’s capital. “They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation’s capital. They are the heroes of this day, and we must remember them on this day and every day, and their families and the sacrifice they have made,” he said, calling for public support as investigators continue to work. WATCH:
