Two West Virginia Guardsmen critically injured in targeted shooting; FBI opens federal terrorism probe as security tightens across Washington, DC.
Washington, DC [US], November 27 (ANI): A shooting near the White House on Wednesday critically wounded two members of the West Virginia National Guard, prompting a massive federal response and heightened security throughout the US capital. Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021, according to law enforcement officials.
The attack unfolded around 2:15 pm ET near 17th Street and I Street NW, where National Guard personnel were conducting “high-visibility patrols.” According to Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department, the suspect approached the two guardsmen, “raised his arm with a firearm and discharged at the National Guard.” Other Guard members returned fire, ultimately subduing the gunman and taking him into custody. Both the guardsmen and the suspect were transported to nearby hospitals with critical injuries.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the attack as a “horrific and unconscionable targeted shooting” and expressed her support for the victims and their families. She said city officials were working closely with federal agencies to investigate the incident.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who appeared alongside Bowser at a late-evening briefing, said the shooting is being treated as a federal case. “Since this is an assault on a federal law enforcement officer, this will be treated at the federal level,” he said, adding that the FBI would lead the investigation with support from the Department of Homeland Security, Secret Service, ATF, and DEA.
The shooting triggered precautionary lockdowns at the White House and surrounding government offices as emergency teams secured the area and assessed potential threats. Officials later confirmed that no additional suspects were involved.
US President Donald Trump reacted sharply to the attack, calling it “an act of evil and an act of terror” in remarks delivered from Florida. He said the suspect was “a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan” under policies of the previous administration. Trump vowed “swift and certain justice,” adding that he had ordered the Department of War to mobilize an additional 500 troops to reinforce security in Washington, DC.
“The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginian National Guard,” Trump said. “We will make America totally safe again.”
Early social media posts by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey indicated the guardsmen had died, but he later clarified that there were “conflicting reports” about their condition. As of the latest update, both soldiers remain in critical condition as doctors work to stabilize them. Their names are being withheld pending family notification.
Federal investigators are still working to determine the suspect’s motive and verify details of his background. The shooting comes amid expanded National Guard deployments in Washington, DC, part of a months-long anti-crime initiative ordered by President Trump and later extended to major cities nationwide.
Further updates are awaited as the investigation develops. (ANI)
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