Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House; Suspect Had CIA-Backed Afghanistan Ties, Officials Say
On Thursday, Kash Patel confirmed Lakanwal's ties to the American intelligence outfit. The Attack raises safety concerns amid an expanding National Guard presence in D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two West Virginia National Guard members are in critical condition after being shot Wednesday near the Farragut West Metro Station, just blocks from the White House, authorities said.
Federal officials identified the suspect as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was taken into custody shortly after the attack. At a Thursday press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel said the suspect previously worked with U.S.-backed partner forces in Afghanistan, and investigators are probing any overseas or U.S. connections.
Authorities said the shooting, described as a targeted ambush, took place around 2:15 p.m. near the metro station.
An Eyewitness records the moment of Lakanwal’s arrest by D.C. Police.
According to law enforcement, the suspect opened fire on the guardsmen while they were on duty. One guard reportedly returned fire. The suspect was wounded in the exchange and immediately apprehended by responding officers.
No motive has been publicly confirmed, and investigators continue to probe whether the attack was part of a broader plan or carried out by a lone actor.
The suspect, Lakanwal, entered the United States in 2021 under the resettlement program for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces. U.S. officials say he served with a CIA-backed unit in southern Afghanistan before resettling in the U.S.
Federal investigators have initiated searches of his known residences and seized electronic devices as part of a broader terrorism inquiry.
The shooting has triggered a pause in processing immigration requests from Afghan nationals, as agencies reassess vetting procedures. Meanwhile, authorities have deployed additional National Guard personnel to Washington, D.C. amid heightened security concerns.
Local and federal officials have condemned the violence. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a “targeted shooting.”
Investigators from the FBI and other federal agencies have confirmed they are conducting a nationwide probe, examining whether the suspect had any co-conspirators or external ties. Authorities have not released a motive or any formal charges beyond assault and potential terrorism, but they say further developments are expected once the initial investigation concludes.