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 Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, was apprehended after being wounded during an exchange of gunfire.

The victims, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, were on patrol when the attack occurred. Both remain in critical condition. Lakanwal, who previously served in CIA-backed Afghan forces, reportedly traveled from Washington state to carry out the attack.

President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as an "act of terror" and announced the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of international terrorism.

In response to the attack, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a review of vetting protocols. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.