Who Is the Afghan National Suspect in the White House-Area Shooting?

A 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been identified as the prime suspect in a targeted shooting that left two West Virginia National Guard members in critical condition near the White House on Wednesday afternoon, authorities confirmed. The brazen assault, occurring at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest Washington, D.C., prompted immediate lockdowns of federal buildings and an airspace restriction over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Lakanwal, who entered the United States in September 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, had resettled in Bellingham, Washington, after serving a decade in the Afghan army alongside U.S. Special Forces. Granted asylum in April 2025, he was residing legally at the time of the incident. According to law enforcement sources, Lakanwal lay in wait before emerging from around a corner, firing a handgun at the patrolling female Guardsman—striking her in the chest and head—before turning on her male counterpart, who was also gravely wounded.

The attack was swiftly neutralized when a third Guardsman nearby returned fire, striking Lakanwal four times and subduing him without fatalities among the troops. The suspect, who acted alone and has not disclosed a motive, was transported to a hospital nearly naked for treatment under heavy guard; the FBI is probing the episode as a potential act of terrorism. Both victims were rushed to a nearby medical facility and underwent emergency surgery, with officials expressing cautious optimism about their survival.

Also Read: Two National Guard Members Critically Wounded in Targeted D.C. Ambush Near White House

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a "targeted shooting," while President Donald Trump, addressing reporters from Florida, condemned the assailant as an "animal" who would "pay a very steep price." In a decisive response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital, bolstering the existing force of approximately 2,400 personnel drawn from the District of Columbia and eight states.

FBI Director Kash Patel affirmed that the case would proceed under federal jurisdiction as an assault on law enforcement officers, emphasizing the administration's commitment to public safety amid ongoing deployments extended through summer 2026. The episode has reignited debates over the militarization of urban policing, with proponents crediting the Guard's presence for curbing crime in high-risk areas, while detractors warn of eroded civil liberties and blurred boundaries between military and domestic operations.

Also Read: Two National Guard Members Critically Wounded in Targeted D.C. Ambush Near White House