WASHINGTON, D.C. — A midday lunch rush turned into a nightmare Wednesday when gunfire shattered the calm around Farragut Square, leaving two National Guard soldiers critically injured in what authorities are calling a deliberate ambush just blocks from the White House. The brazen attack triggered an immediate lockdown of the iconic park and surrounding federal buildings, sending office workers, tourists, and commuters scrambling for cover as over 40 law enforcement officers flooded the scene.
The shooting unfolded around 2:15 p.m. near the entrance to the Farragut West Metro station, a bustling hub flanked by coffee shops, fast-casual eateries, and holiday-decorated light posts in the heart of downtown D.C. Eyewitnesses described hearing a burst of shots—later confirmed as at least six rounds from a semi-automatic handgun—followed by shouts of “Shooter! Get down!” One Guardsman, identified only as a 28-year-old from the West Virginia National Guard, collapsed clutching his chest as his comrade returned fire, striking the suspect in the leg and arm before succumbing to his own wounds.
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“I was grabbing a sandwich when I heard pops—like fireworks, but then screams,” recounted Sarah Ellis, a 32-year-old lobbyist who ducked behind a park bench. “These two soldiers were just standing there, maybe chatting on a break, when this guy walks up calm as anything and starts blasting. It was like something out of a movie, but way too real.”
The victims, both in full uniform and believed to be part of the controversial D.C. troop deployment ordered by the Trump administration amid post-election tensions, were airlifted by U.S. Capitol Park Police helicopter to separate trauma centers. As of late Wednesday, one remained in surgery for a gunshot to the abdomen, while the other was listed in critical but stable condition with wounds to the shoulder and thigh. No other injuries
were reported among civilians, though the metro station was evacuated, halting Blue and Orange line service for hours.
The suspect, a 41-year-old local man with a history of minor drug arrests but no prior violent record, was apprehended minutes later after a brief foot chase through the square. Bleeding profusely from his injuries, he was tackled by Secret Service agents and rushed to George Washington University Hospital under heavy guard. Preliminary questioning revealed no clear motive, though investigators are probing possible anti-military sentiments fueled by recent online rants against the Guard’s presence in the capital. “This wasn’t random—it was targeted, cold-blooded,” said
Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll during a tense 5 p.m. press conference flanked by FBI Director Kash Patel and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “We’re treating this as a potential domestic terrorism act and pulling out all stops.”
The White House, just four blocks away, went into full lockdown at 2:20 p.m., with staffers ordered to shelter in place and traffic snarled for miles along Pennsylvania Avenue. President Donald Trump, vacationing at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, was briefed within minutes and took to Truth Social to condemn the attack: “The animal that shot these brave National Guardsmen—both critically wounded and fighting for their lives—is now severely wounded himself, but that won’t save him from the steep price he’ll pay. Our military heroes deserve better than this D.C. sewer rat’s hatred. God bless them—full speed ahead on justice!”
The U.S. Treasury Building and several nearby offices, including The Guardian’s Washington bureau, were also locked down, with employees ushered out rear exits amid blaring sirens. Evidence markers dotted the cordoned-off grass of Farragut Square by evening, where forensic teams combed for shell casings and blood trails under floodlights. Surveillance footage from metro cams and nearby ATMs captured the chaos: Guardsmen diving for cover, a stroller-pushing mother shielding her child behind a food truck, and the suspect fleeing with a limp.
As the sun set on the holiday-wreathed park—once a serene spot named for Civil War hero Admiral David Farragut, famous for his “Damn the torpedoes!” battle cry—the mood in D.C. was one of stunned defiance. Community leaders called for a unity vigil Thursday, while Guard families gathered at local VFW halls, sharing photos of the wounded soldiers’ smiling faces from basic training. “These kids signed up to protect us, not get hunted on their lunch break,” said one teary-eyed supporter.
The investigation, led jointly by the FBI, Secret Service, and MPD’s Homicide Unit, is ongoing with a task force of 75 agents. Ballistics are being rushed, and the suspect’s devices seized for digital footprints. Metro service has resumed, but heightened patrols will linger through the weekend.
For now, Farragut Square stands as a stark reminder: In the shadow of power, vulnerability can strike without warning.
This is a developing story. Updates as they come—stay safe, D.C. 🇺🇸