White House on Lockdown After Washington Shooting Incident

Two National Guard soldiers were shot on Wednesday near the White House in what authorities described as a targeted ambush. The suspect, who was injured during the incident, is in custody.

Officials identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national from Washington State, according to a Justice Department official speaking on condition of anonymity. The attack is being treated as an act of terrorism.

President Donald Trump was at his Palm Beach resort at the time, while Vice President JD Vance was in Kentucky ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday. In a social media post, Trump called the suspected shooter an “animal” who was “severely wounded,” and vowed he would “pay a very steep price,” praising the National Guard for their response.

According to officials, Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through a special visa program for Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the Afghanistan war and were at risk of Taliban reprisals. He overstayed his visa and was living in the country illegally at the time of the attack.

The two soldiers, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were part of a high-visibility patrol near 17th and I streets, just a few blocks from the White House, when the suspect “ambushed” them, Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said. Other National Guard personnel engaged the attacker, eventually subduing him after an exchange of gunfire.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the soldiers are in critical condition at local hospitals. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as “a targeted attack.” Authorities said the suspect appeared to have acted alone.

In response to the shooting, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guard troops would be deployed to Washington, joining roughly 2,200 already stationed in the city as part of security operations linked to Trump’s immigration and crime initiatives.

Witnesses described chaos near Farragut Square, a busy area close to the White House. Pedestrians fled as gunfire rang out, and some saw National Guard personnel attempting to aid the wounded soldiers.

National Guard troops have been stationed in Washington since August, in a deployment that has faced opposition from local officials and criticism from Democratic leaders. The troops include contingents from multiple states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama.