Editor’s note: The West Virginia governor initially reported the two Guard members had died, but later said there was conflicting information about their conditions.
Two West Virginia National Guard members were in critical condition after a gunman opened fire near the White House in what officials described as an apparent targeted attack.
President Donald Trump called the incident “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror,” calling it a crime against the nation. Citing Department of Homeland Security information, he said the suspect arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan in September 2021 and criticized the previous administration’s handling of arrivals.
Multiple law enforcement sources identified the suspect to ABC News as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Sources told ABC News that Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April 2025 during the Trump administration. Following the president’s remarks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said processing of immigration requests related to Afghan nationals is paused indefinitely while security and vetting protocols are reviewed.
Federal authorities, including the FBI, are investigating whether the shooting was an act of international terrorism or inspired by an international terrorist organization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. and other agencies were expected to provide more information the following day.
How the shooting unfolded
Officials said the two wounded Guard members — one woman and one man — were receiving hospital treatment. Around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, near the Farragut West Metro station in downtown Washington, D.C., a man rounded a corner, raised a firearm and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said. Carroll described the suspect as a lone gunman who ambushed the servicemembers.
Other National Guard personnel quickly intervened, subdued the suspect and held him down after he had been shot and wounded. The suspected shooter was taken to a hospital in critical condition; authorities said it was not immediately clear who fired the shot that wounded him.
Maj. Gen. Tim Seward, adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, praised the rapid response of fellow Guardsmen, saying their actions saved lives. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the individual “appeared to target” the Guard members.
Multiple federal and local agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, ATF and FBI, responded to the scene. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said the department was working with local authorities to gather information. The White House was briefly placed on lockdown; the order was lifted later that afternoon.
President Trump, addressing the attack from Florida, also posted on social media that “the animal that shot the two National Guardsmen” would pay a steep price and expressed support for the Guard and law enforcement.
Context and official reactions
The National Guard had been deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal takeover and crime response announced by the Trump administration in August; officials said 2,188 Guard personnel were assigned to the city. At a recent White House event, the president had praised the federal takeover and thanked the National Guard for improving safety in the city.
Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, urged patience as investigators worked to determine motive, calling the attack a sobering reminder of the risks faced by service members. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth condemned the shooting as a “cowardly, dastardly act” and said the president directed him to send another 500 National Guardsmen to Washington. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines were en route to the capital to be with troops.
This remains a developing story; federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies said further details would be released as the investigation continues.
ABC News contributors to this report included Jack Date, Katherine Faulders, Beatrice Peterson, Mike Levine, Chris Boccia, Anne Flaherty, Jay O’Brien, Alexandra Hutzler and Ivan Pereira.