Afghan national identified as suspect in D.C. National Guard ambush
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been identified as the suspected shooter in an ambush attack that wounded two National Guard troops near the White House in Washington, D.C.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national, has been identified as the suspected shooter in an ambush attack near the White House that wounded two National Guard troops on Wednesday. Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program established during the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. His current immigration status is unclear.
According to law enforcement, he ambushed National Guard members patrolling near a transit station in downtown Washington, D.C. He initially shot a female Guard member with a handgun, then took her weapon and shot a second Guard member. A third Guard member, who was uninjured, returned fire and stopped the attack. Both wounded soldiers from West Virginia are in critical condition.
The suspect was shot and taken into custody and is currently hospitalized. The incident occurred during high visibility patrols ordered by former President Trump.
The shooting has raised questions about the immigration status of Afghan nationals who entered during the 2021 withdrawal.
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