WASHINGTON (AP) — Two West Virginia National Guard members who deployed to the nation’s capital were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially said the troops had died, but later walked back the statement to say his office was “receiving conflicting reports" about their condition. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the attack and the condition of the troops.

The Guard members are in "critical condition," according to Jeffery Carroll, assistant executive police chief for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C., who spoke at a brief news conference near the scene Wednesday afternoon.

"We are in ongoing contact with federal officials as the investigation continue

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