Two National Guard Members Critically Injured in Shooting Near White House

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically injured in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. at the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW, close to Farragut Square. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was wounded during the confrontation and is currently in custody.

Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated to resettle Afghans who supported U.S. forces. He was granted asylum in April 2025. Prior to the attack, Lakanwal traveled from his residence in Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., where he allegedly ambushed the guardsmen using a .357 Magnum revolver.

The FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism. In response to the incident, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., augmenting the existing force of over 2,200 personnel. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended the processing of Afghan immigration requests pending a review of vetting protocols.

The injured guardsmen, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remain hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.