Afghan National Identified as Suspect in White House-Area Shooting That Critically Injured Two U.S. Troops

An Afghan national has been identified as the gunman in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday that critically injured two West Virginia National Guard members — an incident President Donald Trump called an “act of terror.”

The service members, deployed to Washington, D.C., were shot Wednesday afternoon just blocks from the White House. The motive remains unclear.

Who is the suspect?
DC Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll said the assailant, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, “came around the corner” and immediately opened fire on the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.

Lakanwal, 29, was subdued by nearby troops after being wounded. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, according to officials quoted by the Associated Press.

Authorities said Lakanwal is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration program that evacuated about 76,000 Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal. Many evacuees had assisted American forces as interpreters or support staff.

Background Still Under Review
Lakanwal had been living in Washington state, though investigators are still working to confirm his full background, AP reported. A relative told NBC that he has a wife and five sons, served alongside U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, and spent a decade in the Afghan army, including time stationed in Kandahar.

At the White House, Trump linked the incident to what he described as Biden’s “infamous flights” from Afghanistan, calling the country “a hellhole on Earth.”

Operation Allies Welcome has faced political scrutiny from Trump, Republicans and some watchdogs over vetting procedures, while supporters argue it offered life-saving refuge to Afghans at risk of Taliban retaliation.