Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been identified as the suspect in a shooting incident that injured two National Guard members near the White House on November 26, 2025. The shooting occurred just before Thanksgiving and has been classified by authorities as a potential act of international terrorism. Both injured Guardsmen are reported to be in critical condition.
Lakanwal was apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the incident. He had legally entered the United States in 2021 under humanitarian parole, part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, which aimed to assist vulnerable Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. His asylum application was reportedly approved during the Trump administration. Intelligence sources indicate that Lakanwal had prior engagement with U.S. government entities, including the CIA, due to his involvement as a member of a partner force in Kandahar.
Prior to the shooting, Lakanwal had relocated with his wife and five children to Bellingham, Washington. He traveled approximately 2,500 miles to Washington, D.C., where the shooting unfolded. Video evidence suggests that he approached the Guardsmen and opened fire before being subdued by other service members.
Following the incident, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro reported that the suspect was shot and injured by a responding Guardsman. As of the latest updates, no definitive motive has been established for the attack. The incident has drawn attention from various political figures, including President Donald Trump, who condemned it as an act of terror. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also characterized the event as a targeted shooting. The investigation into the shooting continues.