Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House and Farragut Metro Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, according to preliminary reports. The incident, which has sparked a nationwide outpouring of grief and outrage, resulted in the arrest of the suspected perpetrator, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Authorities have confirmed that he had been granted humanitarian parole by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under an earlier policy allowing certain individuals to reside in the United States. The shooting has been classified as a potential act of international terrorism, prompting heightened security measures across the capital and a call for increased National Guard presence.
The attack occurred just blocks from the White House, the center of American political power, and it was described by President Donald Trump as an ‘act of evil’ and an ‘attack on humanity.’ In an online address to the nation late Wednesday, Trump condemned the shooting as a ‘monstrous ambush-style attack’ and emphasized the need for swift justice. ‘The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families,’ he said, adding that he was ‘determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price.’
During a press briefing later in the day, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the shooting as a ‘targeted incident,’ with the suspect appearing to single out the National Guard members. Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll noted that the suspect approached the guards from around a corner and fired at them, resulting in the arrest of the individual within moments. ‘Both of the individuals, the guard members, are in critical condition at a local hospital at this time being treated,’ he added.
The National Guard’s presence in the capital has been bolstered by a significant deployment of personnel, with approximately 2,200 troops stationed in Washington, D.C. This includes units from multiple states, such as West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Vice President JD Vance, who was in Fort Campbell at the time of the shooting, also called on ‘everybody who’s a person of faith’ to pray for the two Guardsmen, emphasizing the critical role of military personnel in national defense.
The White House was placed on lockdown following the incident, though President Trump was not present in the city, having left for Mar-a-Lago in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. The incident has also reignited discussions about the security of the nation’s capital and the broader implications of the U.S. policies regarding immigration and national security. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that Trump had requested the deployment of an additional 500 troops to the city, underscoring the administration’s commitment to ‘making Washington DC safe and beautiful.’
The shooting has galvanized both public and political support, with bipartisan expressions of outrage and solidarity. President Trump has called for increased security measures and the swift prosecution of the suspect, while also criticizing the ‘Biden administration’ for allowing the suspect to enter the U.S. under the so-called ‘Afghan evacuee flights’ policy. The incident has further intensified the political discourse surrounding the balance between immigration policies and national security, with critics and supporters alike weighing in on the appropriate measures to protect American citizens and uphold the rule of law.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the focus remains on the safety of the nation’s capital, the well-being of the injured National Guard members, and the accountability of the perpetrator. The shooting serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of security in the heart of the United States and the ongoing challenges of safeguarding American interests in an increasingly complex global landscape.