By Sgt. Katlynn Pickle, Joint Task Force DC

WASHINGTON – U.S. Soldiers with the Iowa National Guard, currently assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, provided medical aid after coming into the scene of a shooting at H St NE and Florida Ave in Washington, Sept. 20, 2026.

“I was the first person to reach the injured individual,” said Sgt. Blake Cannegeiter, a team member. “I immediately called 911 to get emergency services to us. They arrived in full force shortly after and were able to take control of the scene.”

“The first thing I did was open my trauma kit and start applying gauze to where they were shot,” said Spc. Kaden Adams, a medic on the team. “I got tunnel vision in doing what I can to try to help save this person’s life.”

The medical training that service members are given enable them to control bleeding, provide Basic Life Saving (BLS) measures, and begin treating injuries at a superficial level in a variety of high stress as well as potentially dangerous and often in austere environments.

The team was acting as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF), a small team meant to move quickly and support patrolling teams by supplementing teams involved in incidents and covering areas that may need it. They were arriving at their staging area when they heard the gunfire and saw the fleeing suspect. They immediately jumped into action and began treating the victim of the shooting, establishing a secure perimeter and contacting first responders. Upon assessment, the team’s medics realized that the victim had been shot several times and became concerned over possible shock. They talked to the patient, keeping them conscious and engaged, as more service members and first responders began to arrive. The team provided aid and maintained security of the scene until emergency medical services arrived and assumed care of the patient, who was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

“He was knocked out when we got to him, but he came-to as soon as we were applying aid,” recalled Spc. Keith Steele, a medic with the team. “He was in shock, and I was making sure he knew we were doing all we could to help save him.”

“I was staying very vigilant,” explained Spc. Drakan Swain, a team member. “You don’t know if someone would return in those sorts of situations to do more harm.”

The JTF-DC mission is to help partner agencies keep everyone who lives, works, and visits the District safe. They stay ready to respond to any emergency that may arise within our nation’s capital. Regardless of the circumstances, be it an overdose, mental health crisis, or medical injury requiring immediate care, service members are there and prepared to help in any way they can until EMS can arrive.

“Despite the situation, we were able to recognize the biggest need,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dyllan Rosenbaum, the team leader. “My team operated very efficiently and effectively. We did exactly what we were trained to do.”