An Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been identified as the suspected shooter involved in an ambush attack that left two National Guard troops wounded just blocks away from the White House on Wednesday, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security. The incident has raised significant concerns regarding security in the area, particularly given its proximity to the nation's capital.
According to multiple law enforcement sources, Lakanwal, who is 29 years old, entered the United States in 2021. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed via social media platform X that the suspect was paroled into the U.S. on September 8, 2021, under a program initiated during the Biden administration called Operation Allies Welcome. Former President Donald Trump referred to Lakanwal as a foreigner who came from Afghanistan, describing the country as a "hellhole on Earth" in a video message released late Wednesday.
In the wake of the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's resurgence in power, thousands of Afghan nationals were granted entry into the United States in 2021. Many received special immigrant visas for their service alongside U.S. forces during the two-decade conflict, while others were provided temporary humanitarian status known as parole. Additionally, more than 8,000 individuals from Afghanistan were granted deportation relief through a separate initiative called temporary protected status, which President Biden extended in 2023, reversing an earlier decision made by Trump to end the program.
As of now, the specifics of Lakanwal's current immigration status remain unclear, an aspect that adds complexity to this ongoing investigation.
The ambush unfolded when Lakanwal allegedly acted as a lone gunman, targeting members of the National Guard who were patrolling near a mass transit station in downtown D.C. According to Jeff Carroll, the executive assistant chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Lakanwal raised his firearm and ambushed the Guard members without warning. Reports indicate that he began the assault with four rounds in his handgun, catching the guards off-guard.
The first victim, a female National Guard member, was struck immediately and collapsed at the scene after sustaining at least two gunshot wounds. Following this, the suspect seized her weapon and continued the attack, ultimately injuring a second Guard member. A third Guard member, who remained uninjured, managed to return fire, effectively ending the attack. The two wounded Guard members are currently in critical condition, as stated by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Law enforcement officials have indicated that Lakanwal is not cooperating with authorities following his apprehension at the scene. He was subdued by National Guard members and law enforcement officers present during the incident. The investigation remains active, and authorities are working diligently to gather more information about the shooting and the suspect's motives.
This story will be updated as new details emerge, shedding light on the motivations behind this shocking attack and the implications it may have for security measures in Washington D.C.