A member of the U.S. National Guard has died from wounds sustained in a shooting near the White House earlier this week. The death was confirmed by the President during a holiday address to military personnel.
The soldier, identified as a 20-year-old woman from West Virginia, passed away after being shot in what authorities describe as a targeted assault. A second guardsman, a 24-year-old staff sergeant, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Federal prosecutors have announced that the suspect, a 29-year-old man, will now face a first-degree murder charge. The individual, reportedly an Afghan national who entered the United States several years ago under a resettlement program, was shot and subdued at the scene by another service member. His injuries are not considered life-threatening.
During a press briefing, law enforcement officials characterized the incident as an “ambush-style” attack. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe and is treating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Search warrants have been executed at properties linked to the suspect in multiple states.
The fallen soldier had served since mid-2023 and was deployed to the capital as part of a security mission. Her state’s governor released a statement praising her “courage and unwavering sense of duty.”
In the aftermath, senior officials have vowed to pursue the maximum penalty against the alleged attacker. The case has also ignited a renewed political debate over immigration vetting processes and resettlement programs.
The President has announced plans to deploy additional National Guard personnel to Washington, D.C., though the source of these troops is unspecified. A recent judicial order to end the guards’ deployment in the city is currently under a temporary hold.