Two National Guard soldiers were shot and badly injured on Wednesday in downtown Washington, close to the White House. Officials say the attack was planned and targeted. The suspect was also shot during the incident and is now in custody.
Investigators identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan man living in Washington State. According to two officials, the case is being treated as a possible terrorist attack.
Lakanwal came to the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program created to resettle Afghans who helped the U.S. military during the Afghanistan war and were at risk after the U.S. withdrawal. He arrived through Dulles Airport on September 8, 2021. He applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved in April 2025. Officials say he has no criminal record.
Former President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, released a video calling the shooting “an act of evil, hatred, and terror.” He said his administration would review all Afghans who came to the U.S. under President Biden.
The two injured soldiers were part of a patrol near 17th and I Streets around 2:15 p.m. The suspect suddenly approached and ambushed them, police said. After gunfire was exchanged, other National Guard members were able to stop and detain the shooter. The injured soldiers were taken to hospitals and are in critical condition.
Washington’s mayor said the attack was clearly “targeted.” Officials believe the shooter acted alone.
President Trump ordered 500 more National Guard soldiers to Washington, adding to the 2,200 already deployed as part of his immigration and crime crackdown.
Vice President JD Vance said the attack showed why the administration’s immigration policies were necessary. Critics argue the policies are too harsh and target people even if they are here legally.
Later on Wednesday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it has stopped processing all immigration requests for Afghan nationals until further notice.
Witnesses Describe Chaos
The shooting happened near Farragut Square, a busy area filled with workers and restaurants. Witnesses said people ran in fear after hearing gunshots.
One witness said he saw two soldiers lying on the ground while others tried to help them. Another witness saw a soldier carried away on a stretcher, bleeding heavily.
National Guard troops have been in Washington since Trump ordered their deployment in August. Many local officials have opposed this move. Trump has claimed that crime has dropped because of the deployment, though police data does not support that claim.
Flights Temporarily Paused
The FAA said flights to Reagan National Airport were briefly stopped because aircraft were involved in responding to the incident. Flights resumed soon after. The pause came one day before Thanksgiving, normally one of the busiest travel days of the year.
