Two National Guardsmen shot this
afternoon near the White House. Our
Washington correspondent, Mari Otsu, was
on the scene when it happened and we now
go live to her for the story. Mari, good
afternoon. As you were on the scene, can
you tell us what happened? What did you
see,
>> Don? Good afternoon. Yes. Uh, as I was
on my way to the White House this
afternoon, which is why uh we're doing
this here uh near the Capitol, not at
the White House, I was in a car with my
cameraman turning on to 17th and I uh
which is the Farragut West station, just
a block from the White House when I
heard multiple shots, uh at least over
five, I don't know exactly how many, and
saw a National Guardsman uh in uniform
fall to the ground uh near that bus
stop. There was also the shattering and
uh the ricocheting of glass from the
Farragut West bus stop. I saw a kind of
immediate commotion. Other National
Guardsmen running uh toward toward the
person who had fallen uh while some were
also running up the escalator in in the
subway station and other police in the
area. Uh immediately the sounds of
sirens uh fire trucks and and police
cars. uh very quickly the whole White
House area was in lockdown and a secret
service was was also deployed uh and at
that time press was uh not allowed to
enter uh the White House. So, we came uh
back here uh immediately, but um the
shooter is now in custody as as it
appears, but we we still don't know. Uh
both both of the guardsmen, I think, are
in two separate hospitals, and we don't
know uh what exactly their condition is,
Don.
>> And we can see still from the footage,
the live feed that we were playing just
now, that there's appears to be still a
lot of activity happening in that area.
How has the White House responded?
>> Sure, Don. So, the White House has been
briefed and President Trump himself,
who's in uh Mara Lago for Thanksgiving
vacation, who's not at the White House
right now, says on Truth Social, quote,
"The animal that shot the two National
Guardsmen uh with both being critically
wounded and now uh in two separate
hospitals. Uh but regardless, will pay a
very steep price." Uh he says, "God
bless our great National Guard and all
of our military and law enforcement.
These are truly great people." Uh he
says that as president of the of the
United States and everyone associated
with the office of the presidency
presidency is with them, meaning the
National Guardsmen. Uh Attorney General
Pam Bondi also took to X saying that
federal agents are on the scene and asks
for us to pray uh for the National
Guard. And similarly, FBI director Cash
Patel says that the FBI is assisting
with the investigation and uh DHS
Secretary Christy Gnome uh says that
she's working with local law enforcement
to gather more information as uh this is
still a developing story. Don, back to
you.
>> Okay, Mari, thank you for the report and
keep us updated.
