A shocking incident unfolded in the nation’s capital as two National Guard members were shot in broad daylight by an Afghan national, leaving authorities and the public with numerous unanswered questions. The wounded troops, members of the West Virginia National Guard, are currently in critical condition, while details about the suspect and his motives remain unclear.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that the two Guard members are hospitalized in critical condition following the targeted shooting. The troops had been deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting initiative, which saw nearly 2,200 Guard members in the capital.
The names and specific details of the injured troops have not been disclosed, leading to conflicting reports initially claiming fatalities by West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey. The attack unfolded when the assailant, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, approached the troops and opened fire with a revolver. The suspect was swiftly subdued and taken into custody, with investigators still piecing together the motive behind the incident.
Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome, had settled in Washington state with his family before the tragic events in D.C. unfolded. The shooting prompted former President Trump to announce the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital, although the source of these troops remains unspecified.
As the investigation continues and the wounded Guard members fight for recovery, the community is left grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence.