U.S. National Guard member shot in Washington, DC

A National Guard member was shot in Washington, D.C., according to Metropolitan Police Department officials. The shooting also left a suspect wounded and prompted an emergency response.

Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll confirmed that the Guard member suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. Authorities said both injured individuals were taken to hospitals and were expected to survive.

National Guard troops forced to take cover in DC after a Guardsman was shot. Our nation’s capital is looking like a war zone under lawless leadership.
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— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) October 20, 2026

The shooting occurred after several National Guard members encountered a confrontation in the nation’s capital and attempted to intervene.

Carroll said approximately seven or eight Guard members were traveling together in a van when they noticed the disturbance and exited their vehicle.

The confrontation escalated into gunfire, leaving both a Guard member and a suspect injured.

“So both have gunshot wounds,” Carroll told reporters, referring to the injured Guard member and the suspect.

Despite the violence, officials offered a positive update on their conditions.

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Carroll described the injuries as “non-life-threatening injuries,” indicating that neither individual was expected to die from the shooting.

Authorities transported both wounded individuals to hospitals for medical treatment following the incident.

Police also confirmed that three National Guard members discharged their firearms during the confrontation.

Officials did not immediately explain which shots struck the injured Guard member or the suspect.

The circumstances surrounding the gunfire remain important to determining exactly how the incident unfolded.

Investigators have not publicly established who fired the first shot or what actions immediately preceded the shooting.

The incident raises questions about the dangers National Guard personnel can encounter while responding to violent situations in public areas.

Although Guard members were reportedly attempting to stop a street fight, the situation quickly developed into an armed confrontation.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the wounded Guard member or the suspect in the initial report.

Additional details about potential criminal charges, the circumstances of the original dispute, and the sequence of gunfire were not immediately available.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s investigation is expected to clarify the circumstances of the shooting, including the actions taken by the Guard members and the suspect during the confrontation.