Authorities are preparing to hold a press conference on Thursday morning to provide updates on the critical condition of two National Guard members from West Virginia. These service members were victims of a targeted shooting that occurred near the White House on Wednesday. The incident took place around 2:15 p.m. when a gunman, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, opened fire near the Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C.
According to Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll, the shooter rounded a corner, raised his weapon, and began firing at the National Guard members. Fortunately, other members of the National Guard quickly responded to the situation, intervening to help subdue the suspected shooter. "They heard the gunfire and were able to intervene and hold down the suspect after he had been shot on the ground," Carroll stated, highlighting the bravery of the responding Guard members.
Law enforcement officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, are scheduled to hold a news conference at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington. This press conference aims to provide further details about the incident, which has raised significant concerns regarding safety in the nation's capital.
The White House was briefly placed on lockdown following the shooting, a precautionary measure that was lifted around 5 p.m. on the same day. At the time of the incident, President Donald Trump and the First Lady were in Florida, where they were celebrating Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago club.
Law enforcement sources have identified the suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, as an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 during the Biden administration. Reports indicate that Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration. This background has prompted the FBI to investigate the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism. Authorities are working to determine whether the shooting may have been influenced by an international terrorist organization.
The National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C. as part of a federal response to civil unrest in August. As of the latest reports, there are 2,188 Guard personnel assigned to the capital. In a recent statement during the traditional turkey pardoning at the White House, President Trump highlighted the importance of the National Guard's role in ensuring safety in D.C. He referred to the city as having previously been "one of our most unsafe places" but now described it as "totally safe." Trump expressed gratitude to the National Guard, commending their outstanding service and contribution to public safety.
As the investigation continues, updates regarding the condition of the injured National Guard members and details about the shooting are expected to be addressed in the upcoming press conference.
ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.