The suspect in the Washington shooting that critically injured two National Guard soldiers is an Afghan immigrant who worked with US military units before arriving in the United States in 2021, according to law enforcement officials and US media reports. The man, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody after the attack near a metro station two blocks from the White House.
Authorities say the gunfire erupted in a crowded downtown corridor, leading security teams to lock down parts of the area as first responders treated the victims. Kash Patel, Director of the FBI, told reporters that both soldiers were hospitalized in critical condition. A Trump administration official said the suspect had also been wounded and was transported for medical care.
NBC News reported that Lakanwal served for a decade in the Afghan army alongside US Special Forces, while Fox News cited CIA Director John Ratcliffe saying he had supported several American government entities during his time in Afghanistan.
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President Donald Trump confirmed that the suspect had reached the United States during the 2021 evacuation flights after the Taliban takeover. He described the shooting as “an act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror,” and wrote on Truth Social that “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen … is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price.”
Following the attack, the Department of Homeland Security suspended all immigration processing for Afghan nationals pending a comprehensive security review. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted arrivals and departures at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport due to law enforcement activity tied to the incident.
Trump remained in Palm Beach ahead of Thanksgiving while Vice President JD Vance was traveling in Kentucky. Defense officials said Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to ask the Secretary of the Army to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog issued condolences on social media, expressing “deep sorrow and heartfelt condolences” to the families of those wounded and affirming Israel’s solidarity with the United States as “our greatest friend and ally.”