National Guard Troops Shot Near White House, Suspect in Custody

Two National Guard troops were shot in Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon, and at least one suspect was taken into custody. There are conflicting reports on whether the two victims were later pronounced dead.

National Guard soldiers were on "high visibility patrol" when an unidentified male suspect approached and shot the two victims, CNN reports, citing the D.C. Metro Police Dept. Other guardsmen overpowered the suspect and took him into custody. The suspect had no I.D., and was not cooperating with police.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey tweeted at 3:42 PM ET ... "It is with great sorrow that we can confirm both members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier today in Washington, DC have passed away from their injuries." Twenty minutes later, the governor sent a new tweet: "We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information."

ABC News reports the shooting occurred just blocks from the White House at about 2:20 PM ET. One man and one woman were both listed in critical condition.

President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social website shortly after the incident, calling the suspect an "animal," and said the suspect was "severely wounded."

The shooting occurred near 17th and I Street, NW ... that's less than two blocks from the White House grounds. The scene was secure, police said, and the public was advised to avoid the area.

Video shows a massive emergency vehicle response in the area. The Associated Press reports a helicopter landed on the National Mall.

Trump and the First Lady are in Palm Beach, Florida ... they left D.C. Tuesday night.

D.C. has seen a surge of National Guard troops in the city since August, when Trump ordered their deployment in an effort to combat what he insisted was a rising crime wave in the city ... despite crime stats dropping across the board before their arrival.