Identified suspect in critical condition after targeted shooting near White House involving 2 National Guard members

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the identity of the individual responsible for the Wednesday shooting of two National Guard members, both of whom remain in critical condition. The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who arrived in the United States from Afghanistan in 2021, according to a DHS statement released Wednesday evening. Officials reported that the suspect is currently in custody.

Law enforcement sources briefed on the situation told CNN that the shooters initial identification corresponds with a man from Washington state who applied for asylum in 2024, which was approved by the Trump administration earlier this year.

The two National Guard members were conducting high visibility patrols near the White House when the suspect approached, raised a firearm, and fired at them, according to Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, during a Wednesday news briefing.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the two guardsmen are in critical condition. Bowser described the attack as a targeted shooting, noting that the victims were members of the West Virginia National Guard. Patel asked the public to keep the injured soldiers and their families in their thoughts.

Carroll indicated that authorities do not believe there are additional suspects and noted that the apprehended suspect was taken to a local hospital. The incident occurred near Farragut Square, a busy tourist area close to the White House and a major transit hub.

A source familiar with the investigation told CNN that no other victims have been identified beyond the two National Guard officers and the suspect. According to multiple law enforcement sources, the suspect specifically approached the guardsmen and fired first at one, then at another who sought cover behind a bus stop shelter. At the time of arrest, the suspect had no identification and is reportedly not cooperating with investigators.

Video footage from a nearby Metro station captured the shooting as it unfolded. The suspect fired at three guardsmen, striking two. One of the guards returned fire at the assailant when the shooter attempted to continue firing. Eyewitnesses reported seeing multiple people providing emergency care to those injured at the scene.

Authorities confirmed the suspects identity through fingerprint analysis. A handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered, and officials are investigating how the suspect obtained it, as U.S. law generally prohibits firearm purchases by non-citizens or non-permanent residents.

Earlier misinformation about the victims condition was clarified; the guardsmen are alive but in critical condition. Law enforcement had secured the scene and urged the public to avoid the area.

The DC National Guard, which coordinates Guard missions in the city, confirmed that several members were involved in the shooting and are cooperating with police and other agencies.

Former President Donald Trump identified the suspect as an Afghan national in a video posted from Mar-a-Lago, criticizing the Biden administration for allowing him into the U.S. Trump called for a review of all Afghan arrivals and requested the deployment of additional National Guard personnel to Washington, DC. Following his remarks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary pause on Afghan immigration case processing.

Vice President JD Vance emphasized the critical condition of the guardsmen and highlighted the broader importance of the National Guard as a protective force for the nation. National Guard troops have been stationed in Washington, DC since August as part of anti-crime operations initiated by Trump, with deployment initially scheduled to continue through February despite a federal judge halting the mobilization.

The administration sought an emergency stay of the court order to maintain the Guards presence in the capital. Investigators continue to gather details about the suspect, the weapon used, and the circumstances of the shooting.

Analysis

Authorities have confirmed that the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 and received asylum approval in 2024. The suspect is in custody, and officials report no evidence of additional accomplices.

Investigators state that the attack was targeted and occurred during high-visibility patrols in a heavily trafficked area near Farragut Square. Video evidence and eyewitness accounts support that the suspect approached the guardsmen directly and opened fire, striking two before being apprehended.

Fingerprint analysis was used to confirm the suspect’s identity. A handgun believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered, and authorities are examining how the weapon was obtained, given existing restrictions on firearm access for non-citizens.

The incident has prompted political and administrative responses, including calls for a review of Afghan immigration cases and a temporary pause in processing such applications. The investigation remains ongoing as officials work to establish motive and full circumstances.

Sources:

• Suspect identified as 2 National Guard members remain in critical condition after targeted shooting near White House