Crime
One West Virginia National Guard Member Killed Another Critically Injured After Shooting Near the White House, Suspect in Custody
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier Wednesday near the White House have died from their injuries, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed.
“It is with profound sorrow that we can confirm both members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier today in Washington, D.C., have passed away from their injuries,” Governor Morrisey said in a statement posted to X. “These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community.”
Governor Morrisey added that the state would pursue full accountability for what he described as a “horrific act,” stating that West Virginia will never forget the sacrifice of the fallen service members.
The shooting occurred near the intersection of 17th Street Northwest and I Street Northwest, just blocks from the White House.
Initial emergency radio traffic confirmed that two National Guard members had been shot and transported from the scene—one with multiple gunshot wounds to the lower body and the other reportedly suffering a gunshot wound to the head.
Authorities stated that a suspect is in custody.
The suspect also sustained gunshot injuries but is expected to survive, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
The scene was heavily secured with police tape as emergency vehicles, flashing lights, and helicopters surrounded the area. Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots followed by three more about half a minute later, triggering panic as people ran for safety. One eyewitness reported that a group of children were nearby when the gunfire erupted.
Personnel from the U.S. Secret Service, Metropolitan Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and on-duty National Guard troops responded. At least one medical helicopter landed on the National Mall to assist with transport.
All three gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals, according to Vito Maggiolo, Public Information Officer for DC Fire and Emergency Services.
The Metropolitan Police Department, Joint DC Task Force, and federal agencies are working jointly on the investigation. No motive has been released, and officials have not said whether the shooting was targeted or random.
The National Guard issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming coordination with law enforcement, stating:
“We are aware of the incident and are working closely with the Metropolitan Police Department and other agencies. The health and safety of our service members is our top priority as we continue to support citizens and visitors of Washington, D.C.”
President Donald Trump, who is currently in Florida for Thanksgiving, responded to the shooting on Truth Social, writing:
“The animal who shot the guardsmen will pay a very steep price. God bless our great National Guard, our Military, and our Law Enforcement. I stand with you.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also responded publicly, writing on X:
“Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington, D.C.”
A spokesperson for Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that city officials are actively monitoring the situation.
Crime
Mustapha Kharbouch Now-Deleted 2024 Manifesto Published in Institute for Palestine Studies Recovered
Brown University has removed multiple online references to student activist Mustapha Kharbouch in the days following a deadly campus shooting, a move that has drawn public attention amid heightened online speculation—despite law enforcement officials confirming that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified in the investigation.
Archived versions of Brown University webpages show that Kharbouch, a first-year student at the time, was previously listed in several university-affiliated roles, including as a student assistant and Cultural Programming Coordinator connected to the Global Brown Center.
His academic interests were described as focusing on International and Public Affairs and Anthropology, with involvement in Middle East–focused academic, cultural, and student programming.
Those pages are no longer accessible, and Kharbouch’s social media accounts have also been deactivated.
A verified buyer from the United States with the name “Mustapha K.” reviewed a 9MM muzzle brake through the Wing Tactical website on December 29th, 2024 — the same caliber used in the Brown shooting.
There are approximately a few hundred people in the entire United States with that first name + last initial combination.
University officials have not issued a public explanation for the removal of the online profiles.
The changes occurred as online speculation intensified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, with social media users circulating screenshots of archived university pages and past writings associated with Kharbouch.
Among the materials resurfaced by online users was a 2024 essay authored by Kharbouch and published by the Institute for Palestine Studies as part of a special student essay series titled Genocide in Gaza: Student Essays — Brown University Encampment 2024.
The essay, titled “I Hear the Voice of My Ancestors Calling: From the Camps to the Campus,” was published on August 13, 2024, months before the shooting. The piece is a first-person reflective essay examining Palestinian identity, intergenerational memory, student activism, and questions of hope amid displacement, war, and protest.
The article includes poetic excerpts adapted from “Ancestors Song,” a chant popularized during student-led Palestine solidarity actions at Brown University, and documents Kharbouch’s participation in campus organizing efforts, including sit-ins, hunger strikes, rallies, and the Brown Gaza Solidarity Encampment.
The essay situates these experiences within a broader discussion of decolonial thought, feminist theory, and Palestinian history, including reflections on the 1948 Nakba and the author’s family history as a third-generation stateless Palestinian refugee raised in Lebanon.
The content of the essay is ideological, autobiographical, and academic in nature.
There is no reference to violence on campus, nor any indication of intent or planning related to criminal activity.
The Institute for Palestine Studies has not issued any statement suggesting the piece is under review or connected to the shooting.
Despite widespread online conjecture, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Providence Police, have not named Mustapha Kharbouch as a suspect or person of interest, and have publicly stated that there is no evidence linking him to the shooting.
Investigators have emphasized that the case remains active and that conclusions are being guided strictly by verified evidence.
Authorities have cautioned against drawing inferences from online speculation, warning that unsubstantiated claims can compromise investigations and cause undue harm to individuals not implicated by facts.
Media analysts and campus observers have suggested that Brown University’s decision to remove online references may have been taken as a protective or precautionary measure, particularly as misinformation and harassment proliferated across social media platforms following the attack.
Similar actions have been taken by institutions in other high-profile incidents to limit doxxing, targeted harassment, or the misinterpretation of publicly available biographical information during periods of heightened tension.
Brown University has not confirmed whether the removals were temporary, administrative, or safety-related in nature.
Authorities continue to urge the public to rely on confirmed information released by law enforcement and to avoid amplifying unverified narratives.
As of the most recent update, no arrests have been announced, no individuals have been publicly identified as suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with credible information related to the shooting has been asked to contact investigators directly.