Chaos erupted just blocks from the White House on the afternoon of November 26, 2025, when two National Guard members were shot in a brazen attack near the bustling Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest Washington, DC. The alleged gunman, identified by law enforcement as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was swiftly taken into custody after a dramatic confrontation that left both Guardsmen in critical condition and sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital.
The attack unfolded at approximately 2:15 p.m., according to multiple sources cited by The New York Post and CBS News. Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome—a program designed to resettle Afghan allies and other vulnerable groups following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan—allegedly lay in wait before ambushing the Guardsmen. Law enforcement officials told The Post that the shooter first targeted a female guard, shooting her in the chest and then in the head. A second National Guard member was also shot before a third guard intervened and subdued the suspect. Both victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
The suspect, reportedly shot four times during the incident, was transported from the scene nearly naked, according to witnesses. Authorities confirmed that he acted alone, and no other suspects are being sought. The FBI is treating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism, though no official motive has been released. As NBC News noted, the investigation remains in its early stages, and the suspect has not been cooperating with investigators.
President Donald Trump, who was in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday at the time of the attack, responded swiftly and forcefully. In a video address reported by Newsweek, Trump declared, "The heinous assault was an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation, it was a crime against humanity." He promised that the perpetrator would pay "the steepest possible price," adding, "As president of the United States, I am determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price." Trump also called for a re-examination of every Afghan national who entered the country under the Biden administration, stating, "We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from the country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country. If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them."
In the wake of the attack, Trump ordered the deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, DC, a move confirmed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. "This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, DC safe and beautiful," Hegseth told reporters, echoing the administration’s commitment to restoring order in the capital. At the time of the shooting, roughly 2,100 National Guard troops were already assigned to DC, including about 900 from the DC National Guard and approximately 1,200 from other states, as reported by The Post.
The deployment of the National Guard in Washington has been a contentious issue. Just a week before the shooting, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled that the Trump administration’s deployment of the Guard was likely unlawful, blocking the continued presence of the troops but delaying enforcement of her order for three weeks to provide time for appeal. Following the attack, the administration filed an emergency motion to stay the judge’s order, arguing that the injunction impinges on the President’s authority and undermines efforts to combat crime in the capital.
Reactions poured in from across the political spectrum. Former President Barack Obama, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), wrote, "We’re praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today." Former President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden also expressed condolences, stating, "Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families." House Speaker Mike Johnson called for prayers for the wounded Guardsmen, praising the "heroic work" of the National Guard and law enforcement. West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey emphasized the willingness of his state’s Guard members to serve in the capital, telling CNN, "The folks here in West Virginia when asked to serve, will serve, and they’ll serve in the way that their commander-in-chief asked them to."
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a "targeted shooting," telling reporters that the attacker appeared to have deliberately singled out the Guardsmen. Police Chief Jeff Carroll confirmed that the two Guardsmen were armed at the time and that the suspect was quickly subdued by other National Guard members. The attack took place in a busy commercial district filled with retail stores and restaurants, heightening public anxiety about security in the heart of the nation’s capital.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had resettled in Bellingham, Washington, after arriving in the U.S. during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. His visa reportedly expired in September 2025, according to federal law enforcement sources cited by FOX News. Under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Refuge and Operation Allies Welcome programs, approximately 90,000 Afghans were admitted to the U.S., with special immigration processing and resettlement support. While the FBI ultimately removed 46 evacuees from the terror watchlist after investigations, nine remained in the terror database as of July 2024, eight of whom were believed to be in the U.S.
The shooting has intensified debate over immigration policy and the security protocols surrounding the deployment of National Guard troops in American cities. Critics of the Biden-era evacuation programs have seized on the attack as evidence of insufficient vetting, while others have cautioned against scapegoating entire communities for the actions of individuals. Meanwhile, National Guard members and their families are left to grapple with the risks and sacrifices of serving in a domestic security capacity far from traditional military roles.
As the investigation continues, federal and local authorities, including the FBI, Secret Service, and ATF, remain on high alert. The area around 17th and I Streets NW was cordoned off for hours, with dozens of police and emergency vehicles responding to the scene. The White House was briefly placed under lockdown, and flight operations at Washington National Airport were temporarily halted to accommodate emergency medevac operations.
For now, the city—and the nation—await further updates on the condition of the wounded Guardsmen and the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The events of November 26 have left indelible marks on the capital, underscoring the persistent challenges of security, immigration, and the responsibilities borne by those in uniform.
