Security official believes Afghan suspect in Washington shooting was likely radicalized in the US

The Afghan man accused of fatally shooting a National Guard member and wounding another in Washington may have become radicalized after entering the United States, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. She discussed the suspect's potential motives during Sunday television interviews.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the November 26 shooting, which killed a 20-year-old guardsman and left another in critical condition. Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, Noem stated, "We believe he was radicalized since arriving in this country." In a separate ABC interview, she added that the radicalization likely involved connections within his home community and family.

Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 as part of a large-scale evacuation organized during the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, when the Taliban regained control. Residing in Washington state, he allegedly traveled across the country to commit the attack just a few blocks from the White House, shocking the nation shortly before Thanksgiving.

Some officials from the Trump administration, which reportedly granted Lakanwal asylum in April 2025, criticized the previous administration for insufficient screening of evacuees during the Afghan airlift. Noem noted on ABC's This Week that Lakanwal's vetting may have occurred but was "not done well." Former President Trump criticized the Biden administrations handling of border security in a post on Truth Social.

Before arriving in the United States, Lakanwal reportedly served in a CIA-supported Afghan partner force unit combating the Taliban. Following the incident, US authorities have suspended visas for Afghan nationals and paused decisions on all asylum applications.

Analysis: Radicalization of Afghan Evacuee Raises Concerns Over Screening Process

The tragic incident involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan man accused of fatally shooting a National Guard member, has cast a spotlight on the effectiveness of the vetting process for Afghan evacuees. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has suggested that Lakanwal may have become radicalized after his arrival in the United States, a claim that has prompted further scrutiny of the procedures in place during the chaotic evacuation in 2021. Lakanwal, who was granted asylum in 2025, allegedly traveled from Washington state to Washington, D.C., where he carried out the attack just a few blocks from the White House.

The fact that Lakanwal had been involved in anti-Taliban operations before his departure raises questions about the potential disconnect between his past and his subsequent radicalization. Noem’s comments on NBC’s Meet the Press and ABC’s This Week suggest that the radicalization may have been influenced by his home community and family, raising concerns about possible gaps in the intelligence used during his vetting.

While former President Trump and other critics from the previous administration point to insufficient screening during the evacuation, Noem acknowledged that although Lakanwal’s vetting might have occurred, it was "not done well." This raises the issue of whether the rushed evacuation efforts, meant to save thousands of lives, inadvertently allowed individuals with extremist tendencies to slip through the cracks.

In response to the shooting, the U.S. government has moved to suspend visas for Afghan nationals and halt asylum decisions for the time being. This measure underscores the growing concerns regarding national security in the wake of such incidents. However, it also highlights the delicate balance between humanitarian efforts and ensuring the safety of American citizens. As the investigation into Lakanwal’s background continues, it is clear that the incident has ignited a wider conversation about the vulnerabilities in the refugee vetting process, particularly during large-scale evacuations.

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• Afghan suspect in Washington shooting likely radicalized in US: security official