Authorities have identified an Afghan national as the suspect in the fatal shooting of two US National Guard members in Washington, DC. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old asylum seeker, is reported to have fired approximately 10-15 rounds at close range during the ambush, wounding both guards and sustaining four gunshot wounds himself. The attack occurred earlier on Wednesday, with police noting that the suspect approached the guards deployed to DC from West Virginia and opened fire. Both victims were hospitalized in critical condition, and the suspect was detained at the scene. Law enforcement have not yet established a motive for the attack, although the FBI has indicated that it will investigate the incident as a possible act of terrorism.
President Trump has defended his use of the National Guard in cities across the country, asserting that these measures are necessary to combat crime in Democrat-controlled areas. The president has previously deployed the National Guard in multiple cities, claiming that the actions are aimed at addressing rampant crime in regions he has labeled as politically left-leaning. Democrats have challenged these deployments in court, labeling them as an abuse of executive power. The current incident has reignited discussions about the role of the National Guard in urban security and the appropriateness of militarizing law enforcement in domestic settings.
The shooting has added to the ongoing political discourse surrounding border security and immigration reform. The FBI has expressed concerns about the potential for terrorism stemming from the incident, while the administration has used the event to justify its policies on immigration enforcement and border control. The suspect’s entry into the US in 2021 has raised questions about the effectiveness of current asylum processes and the potential for individuals to exploit the system. As the investigation continues, the incident is expected to fuel further debate over the intersection of national security, immigration policies, and the political strategies of both major parties.