U.S. Soldiers with the Florida National Guard, currently assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to gunshots fired near Pennsylvania Ave and 17th street, May 23, 2026.
“I know I can’t panic,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Kearney, a military policeman with the Florida National Guard. “ I just have to follow protocol and do what I need to do.”
Kearney and his team were preparing to take a meal break when they heard a series of gunshots nearby. They immediately reported the gunfire to their leaders and moved toward the scene. When they arrived, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and members of the United States Secret Service (USSS) were already on site. Following direction from MPD and USSS, Kearney and his team helped establish a safety perimeter to control pedestrian and vehicular traffic. As additional National Guard teams arrived, a USSS officer directed Kearney to locate a group of children who had witnessed the incident and taken shelter in a nearby McDonald’s. Kearney and his team ensured the children were safe and unharmed before escorting them to MPD officers to give their statements. After the statements were collected, the team escorted the children back to their tour bus. For the next several hours, the National Guardsmen assisted USSS with clearing streets near the White House before being released to resume their normal patrol.
“They were true to their training,” says Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Radice, a platoon sergeant with the Florida National Guard. “Instincts kicked in and their muscle memory took over.”These Soldiers’ actions reflect the Army Values and support the JTF-DC mission to help keep everyone who lives, works, and visits the District safe.
| Date Taken: | 05.26.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.27.2026 03:46 |
| Story ID: | 566138 |
| Location: | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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