Two National Guard soldiers are fighting for their lives after being shot in a targeted attack just blocks from the White House. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut Square Metro Station, a busy downtown Washington, D.C. location.
According to police, a lone gunman opened fire on two National Guard members from West Virginia while they were on a high-visibility patrol. Other National Guard members nearby heard the gunshots, subdued the suspect, and prevented further tragedy.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll described the assault as an ambush, stating the suspect “came around the corner” and “immediately started firing a firearm.”
In a live address, President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, identified the alleged shooter as an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021. He labeled the shooting “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror,” vowing that his administration would ensure the suspect “pays the steepest possible price.”
Multiple law enforcement sources have identified the alleged gunman as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. His specific immigration status remains unclear, though he arrived during the period when tens of thousands of Afghans were admitted to the U.S. following the 2021 withdrawal.
“We must now re-examine every alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,” President Trump stated, signaling a potential policy response.
The suspect was shot four times during the confrontation and was apprehended at the scene. The FBI is leading the investigation into the attack.
President Trump has deployed the National Guard to several Democratic-led cities, arguing it is necessary to combat crime. Official police data shows a decrease in overall crime in Washington, D.C., since the deployment began.
