Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been identified as the alleged shooter of two National Guard members in Washington DC
According to police reports Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly opened fire near the White House striking two National Guard reservists who were in full uniform. Lakanwal attempted to shoot a third however he was shot repeatedly by another member of the National Guard
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is originally from Afghanistan and came to the United States in 2021 and applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted full asylum in April 2025. His motive behind the shooting is unknown at this time
Rahmanullah Lakanwal News
A 29-year-old Afghan national, who was arrested for shooting two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House in Washington, DC, had served as a soldier alongside the US military, according to sources. Rahmanullah Lakanwal served in the 01 Unit during the former Afghan Republic – a unit that was established, trained, and equipped by US intelligence, sources in the Afghan Taliban government said.
They said that many members of this unit are currently facing psychological issues, which have at times resulted in incidents of suicide as well as attacks carried out against others.
Washington Shooting
Lakanwal, who “gravely wounded two National Guards”, is a migrant from Afghanistan who came to the US during the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. He waited before he rounded the corner near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC around 2:15 pm (local time) and opened fire, striking a female guard in the chest before shooting her in the head, The New York Post reported, quoting law enforcement sources.
The crazed gunman then reportedly fired at the second guard until a third guard stationed nearby rushed to the area and took him down. The two armed soldiers were patrolling the streets when the suspect fired at them. They were taken to a nearby hospital and remain in a critical condition, authorities said.
Who Is Rahmanullah Lakanwal
According to the report, Lakanwal entered America under Operation Allies Welcome and was resettled in Bellingham, Washington. The initiative brought roughly 76,000 people to the US, many of whom had worked alongside US troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators.
It has since faced intense scrutiny from Trump and his allies, congressional Republicans and some government watchdogs over gaps in the vetting process and the speed of admissions, even as advocates say it offered a lifeline to people at risk of Taliban reprisals.
Outlets including NBC and The Washington Post said law enforcement officials and people familiar with the investigation said Lakanwal had lived in Washington state after arriving in the United States, with NBC reporting the FBI is investigating the attack as a possible act of terrorism.
He was reportedly shot four times after he attacked the National Guard members and was hauled away nearly naked in an ambulance.
Police said he acted alone and has not revealed a motive for the attack.
Reactions To The Attack
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser termed the attack a “targeted shooting”.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the administration has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 troops to Washington.
While addressing the media, FBI Director Kash Patel said that the case will be prosecuted at the federal level since “this is an assault on federal law enforcement officers.”
Multiple states have sent Guard personnel to Washington in recent months as part of President Trump’s public-safety crackdown. The mission has since expanded to several other major US cities.
There are approximately 2,400 National Guard troops currently deployed in Washington, which includes around 958 from the DC National Guard and about 1,300 from eight other states. The deployment was extended through the summer of 2026.
The presence of National Guard forces in Washington has been politically contentious. Supporters say the deployment has helped stabilise crime-plagued neighbourhoods, while critics argue that the prolonged presence of out-of-state troops blurs the line between civilian law enforcement and military operations.
Afghan Who Shot 2 National Guard Members Served As Soldier Alongside US Army
