Afghan National Rahmanullah Lakanwal Identified As Suspect In White House Shooting
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national admitted to the U.S. under a Biden-era program for Afghans who assisted the American military, has been identified as the suspect in a shooting near the White House on November 26.
Lakanwal reportedly opened fire on two West Virginia National Guard members just two blocks from the White House before being shot himself. All three men are in critical condition.
Jeffrey Carrol, executive assistant chief of the Washington D.C. police, described the incident as an ambush. “The attacker came around the corner and immediately started firing a firearm,” he said. While it has not been officially confirmed who shot Lakanwal, other guardsmen quickly responded to the scene.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the attack appeared to be “targeted,” though it remains unclear whether Lakanwal intended to strike additional targets.
President Donald Trump condemned the suspect, calling him “an animal” and a “foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan, a hellhole on earth.” Trump described the shooting as “heinous” and blamed the Biden administration’s Afghan resettlement policy, calling for a review of all Afghans admitted under the program and measures to remove those who do not “add benefit to our country.”
President Joe Biden also condemned the attack, stating, “Violence of any kind is unacceptable,” and offered prayers for the injured service members and their families.
