Two National Guard Members Critically Wounded in Ambush Near White House

On the afternoon of November 26, 2025, just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., two servicemembers of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on patrol. The attack — described by authorities as a targeted “ambush” — left both in critical condition and prompted a massive law-enforcement response.

The shooting occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time near the entrance to the Farragut West Metro Station, a busy transit hub close to the White House. According to police, a lone gunman approached the National Guard members and opened fire without warning.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene: people running for cover, sirens blaring, and a heavy security presence from Guard and police units converging on the area.

In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, one of the Guardsmen returned fire before colleagues and law-enforcement personnel subdued the suspect. The gunman was shot and taken into custody; his wounds are not believed to be life-threatening.

Who the Suspect Is

Law enforcement sources have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. According to officials, Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under the resettlement program Operation Allies Welcome, which brought many Afghans to the U.S. following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Authorities said Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024; his application was approved in April 2025.

At this time, investigators have not confirmed a clear motive for the attack, and they are actively probing whether the shooting might be connected to international terror networks.

Aftermath and Official Response

The shooting came amid an ongoing, controversial deployment of National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. under an initiative ordered by Donald Trump in August 2025. The deployment, originally justified as part of a “crime-emergency” campaign, had already drawn legal challenges.

In response to the attack, President Trump condemned the shooting as “an act of evil, an act of hatred — an act of terror.” He said the incident highlighted what he described as “the single greatest national security threat facing our nation.”

He directed the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington in the wake of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken the lead on investigating the shooting, which is being treated as a possible act of terrorism. Officials continue to look into the suspect’s background, how he obtained the firearm used, and whether others may have been involved.

Broader Implications

The attack adds new urgency to ongoing debates over immigration, refugee resettlement, and national security. In the immediate aftermath, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it was suspending processing all immigration requests from Afghan nationals pending a review of vetting protocols.

At the same time, the expanded use of military forces for domestic patrols — already controversial — is now under renewed scrutiny, especially given that courts have recently challenged the legality of the Guard deployment in D.C.