On the day before Thanksgiving, two U.S. National Guardsmen were shot near the White House, marking a significant and alarming event in Washington, D.C. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been identified as the suspect in the attack. The shooting occurred just blocks from the White House, and the incident is being investigated as a potential act of international terrorism. Law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that Lakanwal was taken into custody following the incident, and both Guardsmen are reported to be in critical condition.
Lakanwal entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who had helped U.S. troops during the conflict. His asylum application was approved during the Trump administration, sparking debates about the security implications of allowing individuals with potential ties to extremist groups into the country. Intelligence sources indicated that Lakanwal had a prior relationship with various U.S. government entities, including the CIA, due to his work as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.
The suspect was living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, according to federal authorities. He drove his vehicle approximately 2,500 miles across the country to Washington, D.C., before the shooting. D.C. police chief’s executive assistant, Jeffery Carroll, said investigators reviewed video footage that showed the attacker coming around the corner and immediately starting to fire at the Guardsmen. Other Guardsmen ran over to tackle the shooter, and he was taken into custody. Investigators believe he was the only gunman involved in the attack.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated that a responding Guardsman shot and wounded the suspect, who was then hospitalized and placed under heavy guard. No motive has been established in the shooting as of Thursday morning. President Donald Trump, who has been vocal about his criticisms of the Biden administration, described the attack as a ‘heinous assault’ and an ‘act of evil and an act of terror.’ He emphasized that the attack was a crime against the nation and humanity.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser referred to the attack as a ‘targeted shooting,’ highlighting the deliberate nature of the incident. The case has sparked significant political and security discussions, as concerns about the integration of former Afghan allies into the U.S. and the potential security risks they may pose continue to emerge. As the investigation unfolds, questions about the vetting process for individuals granted humanitarian parole and the potential long-term implications for U.S. foreign policy and domestic security remain at the forefront of public and political discourse.