Key Points
- Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot near Farragut West Metro Station around 2:20 p.m. ET on November 26, 2025
- Both soldiers are in critical condition at separate hospitals
- Suspect identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the US in September 2021
- The gunman was shot four times and is also hospitalized
- President Trump called the attack an “act of terror,” “heinous assault,” and “crime against humanity”
- 500 additional National Guard troops ordered to Washington, bringing total deployment to approximately 2,700
- The White House was placed on lockdown following the incident
- Officials describe the shooting as a “targeted attack” by a lone gunman
- Investigation ongoing, motive remains unclear
- Governor Morrisey initially reported the soldiers’ deaths but later corrected the statement
The shooting unfolded on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Eastern Time near the corner of 17th and I Streets NW, just two blocks from the White House, close to the Farragut West Metro station. The location falls within one of the most heavily secured areas in the United States, raising serious questions about perimeter security in the nation’s capital.
Metropolitan Police Department and Secret Service agents responded immediately to reports of an active shooter situation. According to witnesses and law enforcement, the suspect emerged from around a corner and opened fire in what officials described as a deliberate, targeted ambush. Other National Guard members who were conducting high-visibility patrols nearby heard the gunshots, rushed to the scene, and engaged the shooter. After subduing the gunman, first responders performed emergency medical treatment at the street level before transporting all three individuals, including the suspect, to separate hospitals.
A massive security cordon was established within minutes of the shooting, with police and armed security personnel sealing off the entire area. Multiple roads were closed to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and the White House was placed on complete lockdown for safety precautions. Secret Service agents were observed at the scene with weapons drawn, establishing a secure perimeter.
Suspect Identification and Investigation
The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, who was shot multiple times during the incident and remains hospitalized. According to multiple law enforcement sources, Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under the Biden administration’s Afghan airlift program following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office has taken the lead in investigating the shooting in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. Authorities are treating the case as a possible terrorist attack given the prominent location and targeted nature of the assault. However, officials have not released any information regarding the motive behind the shooting, which remains under investigation.
Federal investigators are working to verify all details about the suspect’s background and any possible connections to extremist networks or organized groups.
Victim Status and Initial Misinformation
Both National Guard members from West Virginia are currently in critical condition at separate hospitals. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the critical status of the two soldiers during a press briefing on Wednesday evening.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially posted on social media that both soldiers had died from their injuries, creating widespread alarm. However, he quickly deleted the post and issued a second statement citing “conflicting reports” about the victims’ actual condition, clarifying that the soldiers were injured but not deceased. This initial misstep highlighted the chaotic nature of the early emergency response and the confusion surrounding initial reports from the scene.
Presidential Response and National Security Measures
President Donald Trump, who was at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, for Thanksgiving, was immediately briefed about the incident by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Trump responded swiftly, condemning the attack on his Truth Social platform with strong language.
“This was a heinous assault, an act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity,” Trump stated. On Truth Social, the president wrote, “The individual responsible for shooting the two critically wounded National Guardsmen will pay a very steep price.”
Trump linked the incident to the Biden administration’s handling of Afghan refugees, calling Afghanistan a “hellhole on Earth.” The president also ordered a comprehensive review of all Afghan nationals who were admitted to the United States during the Biden administration’s 2021 airlift program, citing national security concerns.
Enhanced Security and Military Deployment
In response to the shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that President Trump has ordered the immediate deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. “This occurred just steps from the White House. This will not be accepted. Therefore, President Trump has directed me to request that the Secretary of the Army add 500 more National Guard members to Washington, D.C.,” Hegseth stated.
This deployment brings the total number of National Guard personnel assigned to Washington, D.C., to approximately 2,700 members. Approximately 2,200 National Guard troops were already stationed in the capital before the shooting, deployed under Trump’s emergency order that federalized local police forces.
The Trump administration has also filed an emergency appeal with a federal court seeking to overturn a recent judicial order that had mandated the withdrawal of National Guard troops from the capital by the end of February.
Official Statements and National Mourning
Vice President JD Vance, who was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, at the time of the incident, expressed prayers for the injured National Guard members. General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, canceled his Thanksgiving plans at Guantanamo Bay to be present with troops in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appealed to the nation to pray for the injured soldiers and expressed support for the National Guard’s mission.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser characterized the incident as a “targeted shooting” and worked closely with federal authorities to secure the scene and coordinate the emergency response.
Ongoing Investigations and Security Implications
As the investigation continues, law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to determine the complete circumstances surrounding the attack. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, though officials have indicated the suspect may have deliberately targeted the National Guard members.
The incident has reignited debates over National Guard deployment in the capital and the broader challenge of maintaining security in Washington, D.C., despite extensive protective measures and specialized security forces. This rare shooting of National Guard members, while on duty in one of the world’s most secure areas, has raised significant concerns among policymakers and security officials about the evolving threat landscape in the nation’s capital.
