Whispers began circulating long before the gunfire ever cracked through the night air. Some staffers claimed they noticed unmarked vans idling near restricted perimeters, others swore they saw figures lingering in the shadows just outside surveillance blind spots. At first, these odd sightings were brushed off as everyday security quirks—until the first shots rang out, turning harmless suspicions into a chilling prelude to disaster.

Initial reports indicate that several National Guard members were shot near the White House, plunging Washington into a frenzy of confusion and fear. The capital felt the impact instantly—sirens wailed across federal blocks, bursts of gunfire echoed through once-secure
streets, and the sight of camouflaged uniforms lying on the pavement sent shockwaves through onlookers. The area surrounding one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the world quickly shifted from routine calm to a fully mobilized emergency zone.