Two US National Guard troops shot, critically hurt in DC; suspect believed to be Afghan national

WASHINGTON  — Two US National Guard members from West Virginia who were deployed to Washington, DC, were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the troops were hospitalized in critical condition. Bowser said they were victims of a ”targeted shooting.”

Two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter said the suspect was believed to be an Afghan national who entered the US in September 2021 and has been living in Washington state. The suspect was in custody, was also shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The suspect has been identified by law enforcement officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal. He came to the US through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the chaotic US withdrawal from the country, officials said.

Fox News, citing CIA chief John Ratcliffe, said Lakanwal worked with various US government entities, including the intelligence service in Afghanistan. Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted in 2025, CNN and CBS reported, citing public security authorities.

In a video message, US President Donald Trump called for the reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered under the Biden administration.

Jeffrey Carroll, an executive assistant DC police chief, said investigators had no information on a motive. He said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.

National Guard patrol along the National Mall in front of the Capitol, November 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

The West Virginia governor initially said the troops had died, but later walked back the statement to say his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition. The governor’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the attack and the condition of the troops.

President Isaac Herzog expressed Israel’s “deep sorrow” over the shooting. “From Israel, we send a message of friendship and solidarity to [President Donald Trump], and all those serving in and around the White House,” Herzog continued. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with our greatest friend and ally, the United States of America.”

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar posted on X that he was “shocked and deeply saddened,” and added, “We stand in solidarity with the United States, the American people and [US President Donald Trump].”

Trump, who was in Florida for Thanksgiving, warned in a statement on social media that the “animal” who shot the guardsmen “will pay a very steep price.”

Investigators were trying to determine the gunman’s motive, including whether the suspect was targeting the troops for any specific reason, the law enforcement official told AP. The shooting happened roughly two blocks northwest of the White House.

Social media video shared in the immediate aftermath showed first responders attempting CPR on one of the soldiers and treating the other on a glass-covered sidewalk. Other officers could be seen steps away, restraining an individual on the ground.

Emergency medical responders transported all three people to a hospital, according to Vito Maggiolo, the public information officer for the DC Fire and Emergency Services.

The presence of the National Guard in the nation’s capital has been a flashpoint issue for months, fueling a court fight and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem.

More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed to Washington in August. Last week, about 160 of them volunteered to extend their deployment until the end of the year, while the others returned to West Virginia just over a week ago.

Police tape cordoned off the scene where fire and police vehicle lights flashed and helicopter blades thudded overhead. Agents from the US Secret Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were on scene, as National Guard troops stood sentry nearby. At least one helicopter landed on the National Mall.

In Fort Campbell, Kentucky, US Vice President JD Vance urged “everybody who’s a person of faith” to pray for the two troops. He cautioned that much remained unknown, including the motive of the shooter.

“I think it’s a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they’re active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vance said as he delivered a Thanksgiving message to troops.

A spokesperson for DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said local leaders were actively monitoring the situation.

Trump issued an emergency order in August that federalized the local police force and sent in National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia. The order expired a month later, but the troops remained.

Last week, a federal judge ordered an end to the deployment but also put her order on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to either remove the troops or appeal the decision.