Targeted Shooting Near White House: Afghan National Charged

New Delhi, November 27, 2025: Two National Guard members are in critical condition following a brazen and targeted shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have identified the suspected gunman as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who is now in custody.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday, the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, near the intersection of 17th Street and I Street NW, just a few blocks from the White House. According to Metropolitan Police officials, Lakanwal allegedly came around a corner, raised a handgun, and ambushed the two uniformed West Virginia National Guard members who were on a “high-visibility patrol.”

Suspect’s Background and Immigration Status

Law enforcement officials have confirmed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021. He was admitted under the Operation Allies Welcome program, a U.S. government effort initiated during the withdrawal from Afghanistan to resettle Afghans who were at risk following the Taliban takeover.

According to one official, Lakanwal was processed through Washington Dulles International Airport on September 8, 2021, and was living in Washington state prior to the shooting. Critically, Lakanwal applied for and was granted asylum on April 23 of this year, a detail officials have noted, and he has no reported prior criminal history.

The Attack and Response

Other National Guard members who were nearby quickly responded to the gunfire. Following an exchange of fire, which resulted in the suspect also being shot, Guard members and law enforcement officers subdued Lakanwal at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital, where he is currently being held under heavy guard.

Both wounded National Guard soldiers are currently in critical condition. The Secret Service, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have joined the investigation. Due to the nature of the attack, the FBI is treating the incident as a possible act of terrorism and an assault on federal officers.

Political Fallout and Federal Action

The shooting has quickly triggered a political debate surrounding U.S. immigration policies. President Donald Trump condemned the attack as “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.” He has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to patrol Washington D.C. streets and vowed to “re-examine every single alien” who entered the country from Afghanistan during the Biden administration.

In a significant and immediate response, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it has indefinitely stopped the processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals pending a review of security and vetting protocols.

Lakanwal is reportedly not cooperating with investigators, and the exact motive for the targeted attack remains unclear as authorities work to fully confirm his background and movements.