FBI Director Kash Patel, Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and other city law enforcement officials provided an update to reporters on the condition of two National Guardsmen shot near the White House. Patel said both guardsmen were in critical condition and transported to a local hospital while the suspect was in custody. Bowser said city resources would be used to fully cooperate with federal authorities in this case.
00:01Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Cash Patel, FBI Director. We're here to brief you on the tragic events that happened today at approximately 2.15 local time in Washington, D.C., where two of our brave members of the National Guard and the Department of War were brazenly attacked in a horrendous act of violence. They were shot. They're in critical condition.
00:21And as you can see behind me, we have assembled the full force of both the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies to bring bear all of our resources to make sure we find the perpetrators responsible for this heinous act.
00:34And make no mistake, they will be brought to justice. Since this is an assault on a federal law enforcement officer, this will be treated at the federal level as an assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
00:45The FBI will lead out on that mission with our interagency partners to include the Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, ATF, DEA.
00:52And we're thankful for the mayor's assistance in this matter. The Metropolitan Police Department and their skills in investigating homicides and gun shootings in this city is exceptional.
01:03We will work together collaboratively because this is a matter of national security, because it's a matter of pride.
01:09President Trump has been informed. We've been in contact with the White House.
01:13We will bear we will shortchange the American public with no resources to make sure we find and safeguard our nation's capital right here in Washington, D.C.
01:22and bring anyone responsible for this heinous act of violence to justice.
01:27I would lastly like to add to the American public in the world.
01:31Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition and their families.
01:37They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation's capital.
01:44They are the heroes of this day, and we must remember them on this day and every day and their families and the sacrifice they have made.
01:50I will now turn it over to Chief Carroll, the Metropolitan Police Department. Thank you.
01:53Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Jeff Carroll. I'm the executive assistant chief here at the Metropolitan Police Department.
02:02At approximately 2.15 this afternoon, members of the D.C. National Guard were on high visibility patrols in the area of 17th and I Street Northwest.
02:12When a suspect came around the corner, raised his arm with a firearm and discharged it at the National Guard members.
02:18The National Guard members, there were other members that were in the area.
02:22They were able to, after some back and forth, able to subdue the individual and bring them into custody.
02:28Within moments, members of law enforcement in the area were also able to assist and bring that individual into custody.
02:34At this time, as the director mentioned, the National Guard members are being treated at a local hospital.
02:39D.C. Fire and EMS respond to the scene to provide first aid for those individuals and transport them to a local hospital.
02:45The suspect in this case was also transported for treatment at a local hospital.
02:50Madam Mayor.
02:53I'm Muriel Bowser. I'm the mayor of Washington, D.C.
02:56And I, too, want to send my thoughts and prayers to the families of the guardsmen and to the guardsmen who are in critical condition in a local hospital.
03:09I am joined by members and leadership from the D.C. National Guard, from the West Virginia National Guard, United States Secret Service, Deputy Mayor Appiah, Fire Chief Donnelly, and Metro's General Manager, Randy Clark.
03:26And we join with the FBI Director in ensuring that MPD investigates, the U.S. attorney prosecutes this case to the fullest extent of the law.
03:39I've had the opportunity to brief U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who was speaking to the president when I called, as well as the United States Attorney Pirro, who assured me that this case will have her office's complete attention.
03:59Mayor, was there any other suspect?
04:01Chief?
04:02Sure.
04:03So, no, at this time, there was no indication that there was any other suspect.
04:06The one suspect that was involved in this incident, they were shot during the interaction, and they were transported to the hospital for treatment.
04:12Mayor, does this validate the need for the national guard here in D.C.?
04:17What we know, Andrea, is that this is a targeted shooting.
04:20One individual who appeared to target these guardsmen, that individual has been taken into custody.
04:27Mayor, can you tell us more details on the condition of the two national guards?
04:33Chief.
04:33And whether or not anyone else was injured.
04:35And a quick question for the FBI director.
04:38You said that we'll make sure we find the perpetrators for this act.
04:42So, just to clarify, the person believed to be responsible is in custody, and there are no other suspects.
04:49Sure.
04:49So, I can start out.
04:50Again, Chief Carroll from MPD.
04:51So, both the individuals, the guard members, they are in critical condition at a local hospital at this time being treated.
04:57At this point, we have no other suspects.
04:59We have reviewed video from the area.
05:00It appears, like I said, to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard.
05:06And he was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members and law enforcement members.
05:09Do you have any sense of motive?
05:10No, at this time, obviously, we're very in the preliminary stages of investigation.
05:15You know, there's a lot of things, a lot of agents that are here from various federal agencies, law enforcement agencies.
05:19We have the full power of the FBI and our federal partners here in the task force.
05:23So, we're looking at all those different aspects, but we don't have any motive.
05:26Are the National Guardsmen armed, sir?
05:28The National Guardsmen that were shot, I'm told they were armed.
05:31Do they get off shots?
05:32At this time, that's part of the preliminary investigation.
05:34Can you explain how the suspect was apprehended?
05:38Chief.
05:38Sure.
05:39So, how the suspect was apprehended, as I said, the individual, the suspect, came around the corner.
05:43He immediately started firing a firearm at the two National Guard members.
05:47So, at that time, there were other National Guard members that were in the area.
05:50They heard the gunfire.
05:52They actually were able to intervene and to kind of hold down the suspect after he had been shot on the ground until law enforcement got there within moments.
05:59And he was shot by a National Guard?
06:01At this point, we're still investigating exactly who shot the individual.
06:04It's not clear at this time.
06:05Did he please them in the area?
06:07We don't know what kind of weapon there was D.C. police.
06:11It happened right in front of the Metro, although there is no indication that the perpetrator was on the Metro.
06:15So, there's Metro Transit Police in the area.
06:17And, obviously, being on 17th Street by the White House, Uniformed Division Secret Service were in the immediate area as well.
06:22What kind of weapon, the alleged perpetrator?
06:24We do not know at this time.
06:25It's still an investigation.
06:27We're going to be able to take a couple more.
06:28Is the person who's been able to question the suspect, or is his condition so severe that you haven't been able to have a conversation?
06:34Sure.
06:34And so, as I said, we're very preliminary in the investigation, so we're looking to all aspects of who the individual is, his connections.
06:40At this time, he's still in the hospital receiving treatment.
06:42And I would just like to add, the reason that this suspect is in custody is because of the bravery of the men and women of the National Guard, who responded due to their extensive training to secure American lives today.
06:57There was not any further injury and any further shootings.
07:00We should highlight the fact that the men and women of law enforcement, the interagency, the Department of War, and the National Guard executed their training with great precision today and prevented an even greater tragedy from befalling us.
07:13These National Guardsmen are heroes, and we must pray for their safety and their speedy recovery.
07:17And as the chief said, we are in the preliminary stages of this investigation.
07:22We will run down every single lead, every piece of evidence.
07:26This is the power of the U.S. government at its best at the state, local, and federal level.
07:30That is why this interagency group is standing behind us to assure America and the world that we will continue to keep D.C. safe.
07:37And thankfully, we have Metropolitan Police Department, the National Guardsmen, and federal agents, and the Department of Justice and Attorney General willing to prosecute the mission to keep Americans safe.
07:47And President Trump has rightly stated that this heinous act will be investigated.
07:53And he has thanked the National Guardsmen and women and the men and women of law enforcement.
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