Pentagon: Suspect in Shooting Near White House Is Afghan National
U.S. officials have confirmed that the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., is an Afghan national.
According to CBS News, military sources identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021 through the Afghan evacuation program. It is reported that he acted alone in carrying out the attack.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday morning, November 25, near the White House and the Farragut metro station, at the intersection of 1st and 17th Streets in northwest Washington, D.C. The Metropolitan Police secured the scene, arrested the injured suspect, and transferred him to the hospital.
Security officials believe the incident was an “armed ambush” targeting two members of the West Virginia National Guard. Although the state’s governor initially reported that the two soldiers had died, he later retracted the statement due to “conflicting reports.”
According to CBS sources, the suspect is not cooperating with authorities, and the motive for the attack remains unclear. Given its proximity to one of the nation’s key centers of power, the incident has raised widespread concerns about security and immigration policies.
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strongly worded video message later that day, calling for the harshest punishment for Lakanwal, whom he described as a “beast.” Trump criticized the Biden administration’s Afghan evacuation initiative that allowed the suspect to enter the U.S. in September 2021.
He also referred to Afghanistan as a “hell on Earth,” citing the Department of Homeland Security’s confirmation of the suspect’s Afghan nationality. The Taliban administration, which has controlled Afghanistan since 2021, has stated it bears no responsibility for individuals who have left the country. Nonetheless, the incident has sparked serious questions about vetting procedures for Afghan migrants.
