Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House; Afghan National Suspect in Custody

WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 27, 2025 — Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot near the White House and Farragut Metro Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, officials said. Authorities have taken a suspect into custody and are investigating the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism.

The suspect, identified by law enforcement sources as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to Department of Homeland Security sources, Lakanwal was granted humanitarian parole. Authorities described the shooting as a targeted attack.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said during a news conference that the suspect appeared to specifically target the National Guard members. Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll explained that the suspect approached the guardsmen, raised a firearm, and discharged it at them.

The two National Guard members remain in critical condition, according to FBI officials. President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening, calling the shooting a “savage attack” and an “act of evil, hatred and terror.” He described the incident as a “monstrous ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House.”

Trump emphasized the gravity of the crime, stating it was “a crime against our entire nation” and “a crime against humanity.” He expressed solidarity with the victims and their families and vowed to ensure the suspect faces the “steepest possible price.”

The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting, which occurred the day before Thanksgiving. The incident has drawn attention from federal and local officials, highlighting concerns about security near key government sites.

No further details about the motive or additional suspects have been released. Authorities continue to gather information as the investigation proceeds.