WASHINGTON — Two West Virginia National Guard members were critically injured Wednesday in a targeted ambush just blocks from the White House, marking one of the most serious attacks on deployed Guard personnel in the nation’s capital in recent years.
The shooting occurred in the early afternoon roughly two blocks northwest of the White House, near a downtown Metro station. According to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel, both soldiers were hospitalized in critical condition. Authorities said the violence appeared to be deliberate, with surveillance footage showing the gunman approaching the troops and opening fire without warning.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the 29-year-old suspect — identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome — was also shot during the confrontation. His injuries were not considered life-threatening. Investigators were still working to verify aspects of his background as the inquiry continued.
Police officials said other National Guard members stationed nearby sprinted toward the scene after hearing gunfire, ultimately subduing the assailant. Authorities have not determined whether the suspect was struck by return fire from a Guard member or by responding officers. No additional suspects are being sought.
Witnesses described chaos in the moments following the attack. Some reported hearing two sharp gunshots before seeing crowds flee down the street. Social media video from the scene showed emergency crews attempting CPR on one soldier while first responders treated the second on a shattered, glass-strewn sidewalk. Streets were quickly cordoned off as police, Secret Service units, and federal agents swarmed the area; at least one helicopter landed on the National Mall to assist.
The shooting comes at a tense moment for Washington, where the deployment of National Guard forces — expanded under an emergency order earlier this year — has become the subject of political and legal debate. Approximately 2,200 Guard members are currently assigned to a joint task force operating across the city.
Following the attack, the Trump administration ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the request, noting that the president had directed him to reinforce security in the capital.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially stated that the two Guard members had died, but later clarified that his office was receiving “conflicting reports” about their conditions.
In a video posted Wednesday night, President Donald Trump called for a comprehensive review of all Afghan refugees admitted under Operation Allies Welcome, criticizing what he described as insufficient vetting protocols.
Investigators have not identified a motive. “This was a targeted shooting,” Bowser said at a press conference, while Metropolitan Police officials emphasized that there was no indication of a broader threat.
The attack cast a pall over the holiday weekend as troops, tourists, and commuters moved through a city under tightened security. Vice President JD Vance, speaking at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, called the incident “a somber reminder” of the sacrifices made by service members nationwide. Senior military leaders, including National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Steven Nordhaus and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, traveled or issued statements of support, with Driscoll saying his “heart breaks” for the wounded soldiers after visiting them in the hospital.
More than 300 members of the West Virginia National Guard have rotated through Washington since August. While many recently returned home, roughly 160 volunteered last week to extend their deployment through the end of the year.
Authorities continue to investigate the shooting, which unfolded amid contentious legal battles over the federalized deployment of Guard forces in the capital — a policy a federal judge recently ruled must end, though the ruling is currently on a 21-day hold.
