Obgist | Nigeria News, Celebrity Scoop, International Gist and Tech News

A shooting near the White House sparked a sudden lockdown as National Guard troops came under fire during a D.C. patrol.

A tense atmosphere gripped Washington, D.C., on Wednesday after gunfire erupted close to the Farragut Metro Station, just minutes from the White House. 

The incident, which left two National Guard members critically wounded, forced an immediate lockdown at the presidential residence.

Police confirmed that officers rushed to the scene and urged residents to avoid the area as investigations began. 

Early reports were conflicting, with some agencies suggesting one soldier was shot, while others reported two casualties.

According to officials, the troops were on a routine high-visibility patrol when a lone suspect approached from a corner and opened fire, ambushing them. 

Other Guard members returned fire and subdued the attacker, who also sustained gunshot wounds before being taken into custody.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was “actively monitoring” the situation and that President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, had been fully briefed. 

In a social media post, Trump promised the shooter would “pay a very steep price” and commended the National Guard’s response.

The two wounded soldiers were taken to nearby hospitals and remain in critical condition, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Their identities, along with that of the suspect, have not been made public.

At one point, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced that both victims had died, but he reversed the statement shortly after citing conflicting information.

Wednesday’s attack comes amid a controversial long-term deployment of National Guard troops across Washington.

The troops were first sent in August as part of Trump’s aggressive crime and immigration crackdown, a move strongly criticized by several governors and local officials who said the decision was “inflammatory.”

In response to the latest shooting, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that Trump has requested an additional 500 troops to be deployed to the capital.

As of now, about 2,200 National Guard personnel from D.C. and multiple states  including Louisiana, Ohio, Mississippi, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama are currently stationed across the city.