An Afghan national has been taken into custody after shooting two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House Wednesday afternoon, leaving the troops hospitalized in critical condition.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed the shooting, while West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey retracted earlier reports of deaths, citing “conflicting reports” about the guardsmen’s condition. The suspect was also shot and sustained injuries not considered life-threatening, officials said.
Law enforcement identified the 29-year-old suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, a program that evacuated and resettled Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal. Lakanwal had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. Authorities are still verifying his background.
Police said the shooting occurred roughly two blocks northwest of the White House near a metro station. Video footage reviewed by investigators suggested the gunman “came around the corner” and immediately opened fire. Mayor Bowser described the incident as a “targeted shooting.” At least one National Guard member exchanged fire with the suspect before other troops held him down.
President Donald Trump, in a video message, called for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under the Biden administration, calling the attack “a crime against our entire nation.” U.S. officials have not yet determined a motive.
Witnesses reported chaos at the scene, with people fleeing as first responders administered CPR and treated the wounded troops. Police and fire vehicles cordoned off the area, while Secret Service and ATF agents assisted at the site. Helicopters were deployed, including one that landed on the National Mall.
Vice President JD Vance said the attack was “a somber reminder” of the risks faced by all soldiers, including active duty, reserve, and National Guard members. National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus canceled holiday plans to visit D.C. troops, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll visited the hospitalized guardsmen, describing their condition as heartbreaking.
The shooting comes amid ongoing debates over the Trump administration’s use of National Guard troops in U.S. cities to address rising crime. Nearly 2,200 troops remain in Washington under a joint task force, with hundreds of West Virginia Guard members among them. The deployment, initially federalized in August, had been temporarily challenged by a federal judge last week but continues while the administration appeals.