Two West Virginia National Guard members were critically injured in a shooting incident near the White House and Farragut Metro Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been taken into custody. According to law enforcement sources, Lakanwal had entered the U.S. as an illegal migrant following the withdrawal from Afghanistan and had been granted humanitarian parole by the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities are currently investigating the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism.
President Donald Trump released an online address to the nation immediately after the incident, denoting the attack as a “savage attack” and describing how “one National Guard in DC was shot at point-blank range in a monstrous ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House.” Trump, in his address, referred to the attack as an “act of evil and act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity.” He emphasized the need to ensure that the perpetrator of the atrocity faces the steepest possible price.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser provided an account of the incident during a news conference, stating that the suspect had specifically targeted the National Guard members, explaining that the suspect had approached them from around a corner, raised his arm with a firearm, and discharged it at the National Guardsmen. The event was described as a targeted shooting, with the suspect being subdued and taken into custody shortly after the incident. Both National Guardsmen are currently in critical condition at a local hospital, and authorities have indicated that there are no other suspects at this time.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially reported that the two National Guard members had died in the shooting, but later retracted his statement, citing “conflicting reports.” He expressed his prayers for the National Guardsmen, their families, and the entire Guard community, as there is still a need for more complete information about their condition. The incident occurred around 2:16 p.m., and while there were conflicting reports regarding the condition of the two guardsmen, the administration has confirmed they’re both critically injured and receiving treatment.
The White House was placed under a lockdown following the shooting, yet Trump has moved to Mar-a-Lago in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday. Reuters reported that as of Wednesday morning, approximately 2,200 National Guard troops were deployed in Washington, D.C., including personnel from various states, indicating the severity of the situation and the heightened security measures.
Vice President JD Vance expressed his solidarity with the National Guardsmen, suggesting that “everybody who’s a person of faith” should pray for the two Guardsmen. He emphasized that soldiers, regardless of their status—active duty, reserve, or National Guard—are the ‘sword and the shield’ of the United States. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who was in the Dominican Republic at the time of the shooting, announced that Trump had requested the deployment of 500 additional troops to the city, aiming to further bolster security measures in Washington, D.C.
Trump’s address also outlined steps to mobilize 500 more troops to the capital, emphasizing the need for increased security in response to the incident. He criticized the Biden administration for allowing Lakanwal’s status to be extended under legislation, stating it was a ‘disastrous president’s’ decision and that the suspect had been ‘flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021’ on ‘those infamous flights’ that were widely discussed.
Trump expressed his resolve to ensure that America is ‘totally safe again,’ and that the perpetrator of the attack would face swift and certain justice. He called upon the American people to pray for the victims and their families, highlighting the bravery of the National Guardsmen who had taken a ‘selfless oath to defend our nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic.’ The incident continues to be a developing story, with ongoing updates expected as the investigation unfolds.