Two National Guard Members Critically Injured in Washington D.C. Shooting; Afghan National in Custody

Two West Virginia National Guard members were critically injured in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. near the Farragut Metro station, just blocks from the White House. According to D.C. police executive assistant chief Jeffery Carroll, a lone gunman ambushed the Guard members while they were on patrol.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated by the Biden administration to resettle Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

After the shooting, other National Guard members and law enforcement officers subdued the suspect, who was also shot and taken into custody. The motive for the attack remains under investigation.

In response to the incident, President Donald Trump ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the deployment, stating, "This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful."

The two injured Guard members are currently receiving treatment at local hospitals. Their identities have not been released, and they remain in critical condition.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and any potential connections the suspect may have had.