Authorities have identified the suspect in the Washington, D.C., shooting that critically wounded two National Guard members near the White House. Law-enforcement sources told CBS News that the accused is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021. Officials are still verifying his background, and the motive remains unknown.
“This is the man who opened fire on the National Guard just one day before Thanksgiving,” an X user wrote while sharing a photo of the suspect being taken away in handcuffs after being shot, stripped, and placed on a stretcher before transport to a hospital.
The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon as National Guard personnel were conducting “high-visibility patrols” near 17th Street and I Street NW. According to police, the gunman rounded a corner, raised a handgun, and fired directly at two soldiers. Nearby Guard members returned fire immediately.
The White House and surrounding federal buildings were briefly placed on lockdown. Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel said both soldiers remain in critical condition. President Donald Trump confirmed that the suspect was also seriously injured.
The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, and the case is being treated as an assault on federal officers. The Trump administration has since ordered an additional 500 National Guard troops to reinforce security in the city.
