Two National Guard members remain in critical condition after being shot on Wednesday near the White House, in what law enforcement is investigating as a possible act of terrorism. The Metropolitan Police Department secured the scene at I Street and Connecticut Avenue NW and took one suspect into custody, as per the findings reported by DC News Now. MPD indicated that the shooting happened directly in front of a Metro station.
The Governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, publicly grieved over the incident on social media, initially reporting the members' deaths prematurely. He later corrected the statement, acknowledging the receipt of "conflicting reports" regarding their condition. He confirmed that both Guard members were in his state's service, "Our entire state grieves with their families, their loved ones, and the Guard community. West Virginia will never forget their service or their sacrifice, and we will demand full accountability for this horrific act," according to a statement obtained by DC News Now.
Federal law enforcement officials identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and former ally to U.S. forces in Afghanistan, as reported by NBC News. The suspect was reported to have been taken into custody shortly after the incident. In response, President Donald Trump exclaimed the assertive need to temporarily halt the processing of immigration for Afghan nationals. He was quoted as saying, "every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden" necessitates a re-evaluation, in a national statement that labeled the shooting as "an act of terror," as detailed by the NBC News report.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, President Trump requested the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard members to patrol D.C., and the FBI has committed to tirelessly working through Thanksgiving to uncover the shooting's motive. A sign swiftly appeared at the Farragut West Metro Station following police securing the scene, reading, “Prayers and love to the National Guard soldiers and their families,” embodying the communal heartache and resilience. Moreover, the suspect, who U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services revealed was granted asylum earlier in April 2025 under the current administration, is now the subject of an FBI investigation that could potentially mark the shooting as an international terrorism act, according to information divulged by ABC News. Details about the suspect's motives and origins are expected to be further clarified by law enforcement officials and the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C. on Thursday.
