What we know about the suspect in the DC National Guard attack
Authorities say the attack was targeted, and the suspect is now in custody
A shooting near the White House on 26 November left two West Virginia National Guard members critically injured and prompted immediate federal policy and security responses.
Authorities say the attack was targeted, and the suspect is now in custody.
What happened?
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Two West Virginia National Guard members were critically wounded in a shooting near the White House on 26 November, 2025, a day before Thanksgiving.
Police said the attack took place in Washington's Farragut Square, a busy area near a transit hub. Officials described the incident as a "targeted shooting", according to Al Jazeera.
How did the incident unfold?
Police said a lone suspect approached three National Guard members at about 2:15 pm local time (1:15am, Dhaka).
According to authorities, the guardsmen appeared unaware as the suspect walked up to them and opened fire, shooting one and then another.
A third guardsman returned fire, injuring the suspect, who was taken to a hospital and remains in custody.
Who is the suspect?
Police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the federal program that relocated Afghans following the Taliban takeover.
The program brought about 76,000 Afghans to the US and included medical checks, vaccinations and security screening, though some Republicans later criticized the vetting process.
What has been the government response?
President Donald Trump called the shooting a "heinous assault," describing it as "an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror". He said he was "determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price".
Trump announced plans to expand deportation efforts and said the government "must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan" since the Taliban takeover.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services paused all Afghan immigration requests pending a review of security and vetting protocols.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said an additional 500 National Guard members would be deployed to Washington, DC. The move came shortly after a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to Trump's previous deployment of Guard troops to the capital. Roughly 2,200 Guard members were already stationed in the city.
How are leaders and advocacy groups reacting?
Former President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden said they were "heartbroken," adding that violence of any kind is unacceptable.
Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, urged full accountability for the attacker but cautioned against using the event to "demonise the Afghan community".
What is the National Guard's role?
The National Guard, a reserve component of the US military made up of the Army and Air National Guard, has about 431,000 members. Guard units answer to both state governments and the federal government and are frequently activated for domestic emergencies and security operations.
