US authorities have identified a 29-year-old Afghan national as the suspect behind the ambush-style shooting of two National Guard members near the White House. The incident has already escalated political tensions in Washington, raising fresh questions about US security policy, immigration controls, and the consequences of past foreign interventions.
The suspect, reported to be Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly entered the United States in 2021 during the mass evacuation from Afghanistan. He was later granted asylum, according to multiple law enforcement sources cited by national media.
Authorities say Lakanwal approached two West Virginia National Guard members deployed in downtown Washington and opened fire at close range. The attack occurred near 17th and I Streets NW, an area just blocks from the White House.
Investigators believe the shooter fired between 10 and 15 rounds before being shot four times by responding personnel. Both National Guardsmen were critically wounded and remain hospitalized. Police have not established a motive and have not confirmed whether the suspect had any known ties to extremist groups.
The FBI has classified the case as an assault on federal officers and is also examining the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
The attack comes amid heightened federal deployments in US cities, ordered by President Donald Trump under the justification of combating violent crime. Critics argue these deployments represent an expansion of federal power into local jurisdictions, while supporters claim they are necessary to restore order.
Following the shooting, Trump called the attack “a crime against humanity,” demanding a sweeping review of Afghan entrants admitted during and after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Federal agencies have since paused processing new Afghan immigration applications pending a security overhaul.
The incident is already feeding into broader political narratives in Washington, where immigration, border policy, and national security remain central battlefields. Supporters of stricter controls argue the attack demonstrates the alleged risks of past liberalized asylum systems. Others point out that decades of US intervention in Afghanistan helped create the instability that displaced millions in the first place.
The shooting has intensified scrutiny of the 2021 evacuation from Kabul, during which tens of thousands of Afghans were admitted to the United States under emergency procedures. Critics say vetting was inadequate, while humanitarian groups warn that politicizing the case risks stigmatizing legitimate asylum seekers.
For now, investigators continue to search for answers. As officials focus on the suspect’s background and possible motive, the attack is already shaping the national conversation, and may have lasting implications for US immigration and security policy.