Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot and are in critical condition, and a wounded suspect is in custody, authorities said. The motive remained unclear late in the reporting. Gov. Jim Justice, appearing on a television program, urged prayers for the service members and praised the Guard for its work.

"I can't," Justice said when asked for new details about the investigation, adding, "They're heroes. They're warriors." He said he had learned of the incident less than two hours earlier and had not been in contact with the guardsmen's families.

The interviewer told Justice that the president had requested 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., after the attack; Justice said he hoped West Virginia would send personnel if called upon and that he expected Guardsmen to "step up" when needed. The program also noted about 160 West Virginia National Guard members were currently serving in the capital.

Justice said public safety must be prioritized and described the shooting as "tragic" and "off the chart," asking the public to keep the injured service members and their families in their prayers. When asked about concerns raised by a former FBI official that additional troops might be at risk, Justice said officials "can't be afraid" to take steps intended to improve safety but described broader deployment decisions as premature.

No motive for the attack had been publicly identified, and officials on the broadcast said authorities believed the suspect intentionally targeted the guardsmen. Justice said he had not yet heard from the president and that information in the early hours had been fluid, noting that state officials had sought to get in front of the situation to reassure the public.

The interview ended after more than a dozen minutes of remarks and recollections of past emergency operations involving the Guard. No formal state action or deployment decision was announced during the program; officials characterized the situation as developing.