Afghan Ex-Partner of US Forces, Now Suspect, Named in DC National Guard Shooting

Authorities have identified the suspect in the ambush-style shooting of two United States National Guard troops near the White House as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national.

Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. under the 2021 “Operation Allies Welcome” program, previously served with U.S. forces, including a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan, according to confirmation from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The shooting unfolded around 2:15 p.m. local time near the Farragut West Metro station, just blocks from the White House, while the Guard members were on patrol.

Lakanwal allegedly opened fire with a revolver, fatally ambushed the two servicemembers, and was subdued by other Guard personnel after a brief exchange of gunfire — he was subsequently taken into custody, wounded but alive.

Following the attack, the two wounded soldiers, a woman and a man from the West Virginia National Guard, were rushed to the hospital and remain in critical condition. Prosecutors expect to charge Lakanwal with multiple counts, including assault with intent to kill while armed. A federal investigation is underway, and the probe is being treated as a potential act of terrorism by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The revelation of Lakanwal’s prior ties to U.S. government operations has triggered sharp concerns about vetting procedures for evacuees resettled under refugee-assistance programs.

In the wake of the shooting, immigration authorities have paused processing of immigration applications from Afghan nationals while security reviews are reassessed.

The shooting has also reignited political debate over the deployment of National Guard troops in civilian policing roles in Washington, and about immigration policy and national-security safeguards. Federal and local officials continue to assess evidence, motive, and potential wider links as part of the ongoing investigation.

Source- The Guardian, Reuters, CBS new