Two members of the National Guard were shot on Wednesday near the White House in Washington D.C. One individual died on Thursday, and the second remains in critical condition. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is in custody. President Donald Trump announced the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to the city following the incident.
Incident Details
The shooting occurred just after 2:00 PM EST (7:00 PM GMT) on Wednesday. The two National Guard members, both from West Virginia, were on a high-visibility patrol near Farragut Square at the intersection of 17th and I streets. Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll stated that the suspect "came around the corner" and "immediately started firing," describing the event as an "ambush." Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser characterized the incident as a targeted attack. Law enforcement officials responded quickly to the scene, apprehending the gunman and providing aid to the victims. The injured guards members were transported to a hospital, where one later died. President Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida at the time of the shooting.
Suspect Information
The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, described as a "criminal alien from Afghanistan." Law enforcement sources informed CBS News that Mr. Lakanwal was shot four times during his apprehension.
Mr. Lakanwal, 29, is reportedly not cooperating with authorities. He arrived in the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program for Afghans initiated during the Biden administration following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. The Congressional Research Service estimated approximately 77,000 Afghans entered the U.S. under special immigration protections during this period. FBI Director Kash Patel stated Mr. Lakanwal had a relationship with US forces in Afghanistan, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe added that he worked with the intelligence agency. Mr. Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted earlier this year, according to an official who spoke to CBS.
President Trump subsequently stated that the US "must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden" and suspended processing all immigration requests from Afghans.
Charges and Response
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that Mr. Lakanwal will face three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, along with one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. These charges carry a potential sentence of 15 years imprisonment if found guilty.
Following the shooting, President Trump released a video statement from Mar-a-Lago, labeling the event an "act of terror" and "a crime against humanity." He referred to Mr. Lakanwal as an "animal" who shot the guard members "at point-blank range in a monstrous, ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House."
National Guard Deployment and Victims
The National Guard currently has nearly 2,200 troops deployed in Washington D.C. President Trump's directive will increase this number by 500, bringing the total to 2,700. National Guard troops are a reservist force that can be activated for military service but possess limited law enforcement powers. Troops were initially deployed in August by President Trump to address what he termed "out of control" crime in the capital.
The victims were identified as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Both were uniformed members of the West Virginia National Guard. US Attorney Pirro stated they were "in DC to keep DC safe."