Guards shot in attack near White House

Two West Virginia National Guard members were hospitalized in critical condition after being shot near the White House in Washington in an attack officials described as targeted; a suspect is in custody. Law enforcement identified the shooter in multiple reports as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 and had been living in Washington state. Authorities said the assailant opened fire near the Farragut West Metro station before officers returned fire, critically wounding him.

Federal and local officials treated the incident as a deliberate ambush on uniformed personnel protecting the capital. Investigators are probing motive and connections; the security response was immediate and substantial. The administration requested deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington to reinforce protections around the White House and other federal sites. Defense officials said the supplement was ordered to ensure public safety and deter any potential follow-up attacks.

The shooting prompted swift policy and political reactions. The president called the attack “an act of terror” and attributed responsibility in part to immigration and resettlement policies, urging a review of Afghan arrivals under the 2021 evacuation program. He publicly demanded a reexamination of vetting for people who entered from Afghanistan and signaled tougher immigration enforcement toward those deemed unable to “love our country.” The White House also filed an emergency motion with a federal appeals court seeking to allow the National Guard to remain deployed in Washington after a lower court recently ordered a pause on the deployment under the Home Rule Act.

Immigration authorities announced an immediate suspension of processing certain applications from Afghan nationals while vetting procedures are reviewed. Officials said the pause is temporary and intended to prevent potential security risks as investigators and agencies reassess screening protocols connected to arrivals from Afghanistan.

Police confirmed a suspect is detained and receiving medical care; investigators continue to interview witnesses, review surveillance footage and piece together the timeline of the assault and the assailant’s movements. Federal prosecutors and local police are coordinating the criminal inquiry while military and civilian leaders evaluate force posture and protective measures across the capital.