Executive Summary
- Police identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.
- Two National Guard members remain in critical condition following the shooting near the White House.
- President Trump labeled the incident an "act of terror" and criticized prior vetting policies.
- The suspect entered the U.S. in 2021 via Operation Allies Welcome and was recently granted asylum.
Law enforcement officials have identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, as the suspect in the Wednesday shooting of two National Guard members near the White House in Washington, D.C. The incident has prompted an immediate response from federal authorities and a strong condemnation from the executive branch.
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under "Operation Allies Welcome," a resettlement program initiated by the Biden administration following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. CNN reports that immigration authorities granted the suspect asylum earlier this year. Lakanwal is currently in custody and receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries sustained during his apprehension, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
The shooting took place near the Farragut West metro station. Jeffrey Carroll, an official with Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, stated at a press conference that the suspect "came around the corner" and "immediately started firing a firearm" at the troops. Both victims, identified by NBC News as a male and a female member of the West Virginia National Guard, were shot with a handgun and remain in critical condition. Bystander footage reportedly showed police and guard members subduing the suspect shortly after the attack.
Speaking from Palm Beach, Florida, President Donald Trump characterized the shooting as an "act of terror." In a video address, President Trump stated, "The Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan." The President utilized the incident to criticize the vetting protocols of the previous administration and announced a directive to re-examine the status of other refugees admitted from Afghanistan. He further stated that he has ordered an additional 500 guard members to the capital.
National Security and Legal Implications
This incident is expected to intensify the ongoing political debate regarding immigration vetting protocols and the domestic deployment of military personnel. Approximately 2,375 National Guard troops have been stationed in Washington since August under a declared "crime emergency," a deployment currently facing legal challenges in federal court. As investigators work to determine a motive, the executive branch’s classification of the event as terrorism may influence both prosecutorial strategy and future immigration policy. It is important to note that Rahmanullah Lakanwal is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
