Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national identified as the gunman who shot two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House on November 26, 2025. He entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal and was resettled in Washington state.
Background:
- Nationality: Afghan
- Age: 29
- Entry into U.S.: Came under Operation Allies Welcome, a program that resettled Afghan refugees after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
- Residence: Resettled in Bellingham, Washington.
- Reported Links: Had previously worked with U.S. troops in Afghanistan, according to some reports.
The Incident:
- Date & Location: November 26, 2025, near Farragut West Metro Station, just blocks from the White House.
- Victims: Two West Virginia National Guard members deployed to Washington, D.C.
- Attack Details:
- Lakanwal allegedly waited near the station before opening fire.
- A female guard was shot in the chest and head.
- He then fired at a second guard until another soldier intervened and subdued him.
- Aftermath: Both victims were critically injured and rushed to hospitals. The White House was briefly locked down as a precaution.
Reactions:
- Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a “targeted shooting”.
- President Donald Trump condemned the attack, calling the suspect an “animal”.
- The shooting has raised concerns about vetting processes for Afghan refugees resettled in the U.S..
Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s case has shocked Washington, D.C., as it involved a violent attack on U.S. troops near the White House. His background as an Afghan refugee resettled under Operation Allies Welcome has sparked debates about security screening and refugee integration. The investigation is ongoing, and officials are working to determine his motives and possible connections.
