On the day before Thanksgiving, a gunman opened fire and left two National Guard men critically wounded in Farragut Square in Washington, DC – a tourist-heavy area located near a busy transit center and the White House.
As investigators gather more information about the incident and the suspected perpetrator, here are the latest developments:
Initial ID: The FBI believes the initial identification of the shooter matches a Washington state man who appears to have immigrated to the US from Afghanistan in 2021, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the case told CNN. Authorities took the man’s fingerprints into custody, which is how they came up with the original name, the official added, noting that they are still working on additional confirmation. The suspect applied for asylum in 2024 and it was granted earlier this year.
Research updates: Local, state and national officials have vowed to bring justice to the victims and their families. So far, investigators have found a gun believed to have been used in the attack. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said he had spoken to President Donald Trump about the two Guardsmen from his state who had been shot. “We continue to work to ensure justice is served,” Morrisey said.
More locally: Eyewitnesses recounted the violence, with one telling local television station WUSA that they heard five shots ring out before they saw people running. Another witness, who is visiting DC for the holidays, said he was hiding behind chairs in Farragut Square and saw a person with his hands behind his back on his stomach, who he assumed was the shooter.
Emergency accommodation: The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court for an emergency stay of a federal judge’s order to remove the National Guard from Washington, DC. Last week the judge ruled that the deployment was unlawful.
Former presidents weigh in: A slew of officials have expressed condolences for those affected by the shooting, including former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
CNN’s Brian Todd reported from the DC scene today.
CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Casey Gannon, Brian Todd and Taylor Romine contributed reporting.
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