WASHINGTON — In an alarming incident, two National Guard members were shot in Washington D.C. by an Afghan national, prompting urgent questions regarding their condition and the motivations of the shooter.
The wounded troops, part of the West Virginia National Guard deployed as part of a crime-fighting mission, were reported to be in critical condition. Initial reports mistakenly stated that they had died, but this was later retracted as officials await accurate details.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attack was sudden and targeted, with the shooter beginning fire almost immediately upon confrontation. An exchange of gunfire occurred between at least one Guard member and the assailant, who has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. through a resettlement program following the country’s recent upheaval.
Lakanwal allegedly immigrated to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, which evacuated numerous Afghans amid the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Law enforcement confirms that he had been residing in Washington state for some time before making his way to D.C. The reasons behind his attack remain uncertain, as authorities continue to investigate his motives.
In the aftermath of the shooting, President Trump mentioned plans to send an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., although the logistics of this deployment remain unclear. This increase in military presence raises further discussions about security protocols at a time when tensions within the nation are high.
As investigations unfold, communities in Washington and across the country remain vigilant, grappling with the implications of this incident on public safety and the ongoing support for the National Guard's role in domestic affairs.
The wounded troops, part of the West Virginia National Guard deployed as part of a crime-fighting mission, were reported to be in critical condition. Initial reports mistakenly stated that they had died, but this was later retracted as officials await accurate details.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attack was sudden and targeted, with the shooter beginning fire almost immediately upon confrontation. An exchange of gunfire occurred between at least one Guard member and the assailant, who has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. through a resettlement program following the country’s recent upheaval.
Lakanwal allegedly immigrated to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, which evacuated numerous Afghans amid the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Law enforcement confirms that he had been residing in Washington state for some time before making his way to D.C. The reasons behind his attack remain uncertain, as authorities continue to investigate his motives.
In the aftermath of the shooting, President Trump mentioned plans to send an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., although the logistics of this deployment remain unclear. This increase in military presence raises further discussions about security protocols at a time when tensions within the nation are high.
As investigations unfold, communities in Washington and across the country remain vigilant, grappling with the implications of this incident on public safety and the ongoing support for the National Guard's role in domestic affairs.
