Just one day before Thanksgiving, a disturbing act of violence unfolded only blocks from the White House. Two West Virginia National Guard members deployed to Washington, D.C., were shot Wednesday afternoon in what city officials are calling a targeted attack.
Both service members were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser.
The shooting, rare not only for its proximity to the White House but for its focus on military personnel, has immediately intensified ongoing debates about the role of National Guard troops in major U.S. cities.
Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 27, 2025
Authorities say the suspect, who was also shot and sustained injuries believed to be non–life-threatening, is now in custody.
Law enforcement officials identified the shooter as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The Biden administration program was launched to evacuate and resettle Afghans who worked alongside U.S. troops after the military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Roughly 76,000 Afghans were relocated through the initiative, many of them former interpreters and translators. While advocates have praised the program as a necessary lifeline, it has also faced intense scrutiny from Trump allies, congressional Republicans, and federal watchdogs who argued the rapid admission process resulted in gaps in vetting.
Officials say Lakanwal had been living in Washington state and that they are still working to verify details about his background. Because the investigation is ongoing, authorities have only released limited information.
Former President Barack Obama was among the first national figures to respond publicly, posting on X:
“Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances.”
