DC National Guard is fully armed after White House area shooting
"I can confirm that everybody in DC is now armed, and a lot of our DC National Guardsmen are now also doing joint patrols with members of the police department here in DC. So their safety is, of course, top of mind," Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told reporters.
The directive follows the ambush of two Guard members near the Farragut West metro station, just blocks from the White House. One of the victims, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, later died from her injuries, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remains hospitalized. The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, faces charges including murder, assault, and firearms offenses.
Wilson noted that over 2,200 National Guard members from across the US are currently serving as part of Joint Task Force DC, with another 500 personnel expected to arrive.
When asked about potential deployments in other cities, Wilson said there is nothing new to announce at this time. She added: "I can tell you that our mission set is critical. We are keeping American cities safe all across this country, and we are going to remain committed to that.
These missions aren't going to stop in Chicago, in Los Angeles, in DC. We understand the urgent threat that is facing many of these cities, and the National Guard is proud to step in alongside our law enforcement partners to help with that."
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