The gunman who wounded two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021, and officials say the attack is being treated as terrorism while the suspect remains in custody.
Law enforcement sources and a senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed the suspect’s identity, and investigators are piecing together his path to the capital as questions mount about how he arrived and moved within the country. Officials say the two Guardsmen were shot roughly a mile from the White House and were critically wounded at last report. The swift response by service members on the scene helped prevent further loss of life.
According to on-the-ground accounts, the attacker shouted “Allahu akbar!” before opening fire with a revolver, and one National Guardsman stabbed the assailant with a pocketknife while another fired multiple rounds that struck the suspect. Those actions by the Guardsmen are being credited with subduing the attacker until authorities could take over. The Bureau of Investigation has classified the incident as an act of terrorism while it gathers evidence and interviews witnesses.
Officials have said the suspect first entered the United States in 2021, a detail that has renewed debate about admission and vetting processes for people arriving from Afghanistan in recent years. For many Americans and veterans, the idea that a foreign national linked to a terror investigation could be operating near the nation’s most sensitive areas is alarming. That concern is fueling calls for clearer answers from agencies tasked with border security and immigration vetting.
MPD reportedly has the suspect in custody while federal agents lead the terrorism probe, and local and federal teams are coordinating evidence collection and witness interviews. Investigators are examining the suspect’s movements and any possible connections or motives that led to this attack. Early public reports have focused on the heroic response of the Guardsmen and the rapid law enforcement reaction that followed.
President Donald Trump previously announced a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department to address crime in the district, and the shooting has renewed attention on that decision for those who favor a stronger federal role. Supporters say a federalized approach provides resources and accountability that can protect residents and national assets. Critics will argue about jurisdiction, but many Republicans see federal oversight as a practical response to violent incidents near federal landmarks.
The identification of Rahmanullah Lakanwal has also put a spotlight on how information flows between agencies and how quickly authorities can confirm a suspect’s immigration and travel history. Republicans and security-focused policymakers are likely to press for faster, clearer answers about admission dates, status at entry, and any lapses in monitoring. That push will aim to prevent similar incidents and to restore public confidence in protective measures around federal sites.
Eyewitness accounts and local reporting named a journalist who shared details from the scene, and those on the ground described a chaotic but determined effort to stop the shooter. The Guardsmen’s training and quick thinking were decisive, and their actions remain central to the narrative as investigators assemble a timeline. As the probe continues, each disclosure will shape public debate over safety, immigration, and the role of federal law enforcement in Washington.
For now, the focus is on the wounded service members and on securing the scene while federal investigators work through leads. Families, colleagues, and commanders have rallied around the injured Guardsmen, and the incident has stirred strong reactions across political lines. Republicans who argued for stronger federal involvement in District policing point to this shooting as confirmation that decisive action and stricter oversight are needed.
Officials have warned that more details will emerge as the investigation proceeds, and that patience is required while forensic work and interviews take place. Meanwhile, the identification of the suspect as an Afghan national who entered in 2021 will keep border and vetting questions at the center of policy discussions. The incident underscores a raw reality: protecting the capital demands vigilant security, clear accountability, and swift action from those in charge.
Journalists on the scene have relayed moments of confrontation and the rapid medical response that followed, and local reporting helped shape the first public understanding of what happened. The suspect’s actions and the Guardsmen’s resistance will both be closely examined in court and in policy debates. Observers across the political spectrum will watch the FBI’s terrorism probe for the facts that should guide any legislative or administrative response.
