2025 Washington, D.C., National Guard shooting

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2025 Washington, D.C., National Guard shooting
Part of 2025 deployment of federal forces in the United States
National Guardsmen stationed outside Farragut North station, November 15, 2025. The shooting occurred across Farragut Square from this entrance.
Map
Interactive map of 2025 Washington, D.C., National Guard shooting
Location38°54′04″N 77°02′21″W / 38.9012°N 77.0393°W / 38.9012; -77.0393
Near Farragut West station
17th and I Streets
Washington, D.C., US
DateNovember 26, 2025 (2025-11-26)
c. 2:15 p.m.[1] (EST)
Attack type
Shooting
Weapon.357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver[2]
Deaths1
Injured2 (including the suspect)
MotiveUnder investigation

On November 26, 2025, two members of the West Virginia National Guard who were participating in the deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard forces were shot near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C., United States, two blocks away from the White House.[3] One of the service members died later from her injuries, and the male suspect was critically wounded.[4][5]

The suspect was later identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had previously received paramilitary training and support from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Afghanistan.[6][7] Following the attack, President Donald Trump announced an additional crackdown on the city, and requested the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops.[8][9] The shooting became a political flashpoint,[10] and led to what the Democrats labeled as anti-immigrant statements by Republican politicians with calls to deport all "Islamists".[11][12]

Background

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See also: 2025 deployment of federal forces in the United States and Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia

Before the shooting, the deployment of National Guard troops, including the contingent from West Virginia National Guard, to Washington, D.C., was part of a broader domestic-military mobilization ordered in August 2025 by President Donald Trump. The troops were stationed near Farragut Square, approximately two blocks northwest of the White House, as part of patrols in downtown Washington.[13][14] The deployment had been controversial,[15] and a federal judge had ruled a week prior that such a deployment was unlawful.[16] The ruling was stayed until December 11 pending an appeal by the Trump administration.[17]

Shooting

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The shooting occurred on November 26, 2025, near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C., two blocks northwest of the White House.[18] The suspect approached the guardsmen, firing at one who was several feet away before firing at the other, who tried to get behind a bus stop shelter.[19] One of the national guardsmen then engaged the shooter with gunfire.[18] Both guardsmen were shot in the head.[20]

Law enforcement officials described it as an ambush-style attack and said 10 to 15 shots were fired.[21] The shooter initially used a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver,[2] and shooting the guardswoman, picked up her firearm to shoot the guardsman.[22] West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced that two National Guard members had been killed in a shooting near the White House. Soon afterward, he backtracked, saying reports about their condition were conflicting.[23]

Suspect

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A male suspect was taken into custody, and was reported to be seriously injured, though not life-threatening, after being stabbed with a pocket knife by a guardsman,[22] and also shot[24][18] four times.[21] The suspect was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal (born February 9, 1996),[25] a 29-year-old Afghan national of Pashtun background from Khost Province.[6] Lakanwal did not cooperate with investigators.[19] He entered the United States on September 8, 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a humanitarian parole program allowing vulnerable Afghans to enter and stay for two years without permanent immigration status.[26][27][28] Lakanwal was last reported living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, where he lived since his departure from Afghanistan.[18][29] He applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted in April 2025.[30][31]

In Afghanistan, Lakanwal worked for a CIA-backed "Zero Unit" of the Afghan National Directorate of Security in Kandahar Province.[32] "Zero Units" were paramilitary groups "known for their brutality and labeled death squads", trained for nighttime raids on suspected Taliban members. A friend of Lakanwal said he "suffered from mental health issues and was disturbed by the casualties his unit had caused".[6]

Following the shooting, federal agents, along with the FBI, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and the Bellingham Police Department executed search warrants at the Walton Place apartments in Bellingham, and seized several electronic devices including cell phones, laptops, and iPads.[33][34] Subsequent search warrants were also executed at another residence in San Diego, California, where Lakanwal also had ties to the city itself.[35]

Victims

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The two West Virginia National Guard members were identified as 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe of Martinsburg, West Virginia,[36] and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom of Summersville, West Virginia,[37] according to a statement from US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. US Attorney General Pam Bondi reported that both soldiers had "come through surgery".[38] Beckstrom died from her injuries on November 27.[39]

Reactions and analysis

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On Truth Social, President Donald Trump – who was not at the White House, and vacationing at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach County, Florida, at the time[40] – posted: "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!"[41] Hours after the shooting, Trump requested 500 additional National Guard troops to be deployed to Washington, D.C.[8][42][9] Vice-President JD Vance, who was at Fort Campbell in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, asked for prayers for the national guardsmen who were shot.[43] The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will investigate the shooting as an act of possible terrorism.[44]

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, called for prayers after the shooting.[45] Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Majority leader John Thune expressed their sympathies to the West Virginia National Guardsmen.[46] West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey honored the National Guardsmen on social media.[47]

Bellingham's mayor Kim Lund honored the National Guard on an email post following the attack and Lakanwal's arrest, saying: "There is no excuse for the heinous violent attack they suffered, with the terrible actions committed in Washington are the actions of one person and not a community", adding that "they never represent Bellingham’s values, never reflect Washington's values, and never represent what makes our communities safe.”[48]

The shooting intensified debate over the necessity of a military deployment to the district.[49] Investigative journalist Jane Mayer, a DC resident, called the incident "tragic" and said the deployment was "for political show and at what a cost"; White House communications director Steven Cheung told her to "shut the fuck up".[50]

Immigration crackdown

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See also: Immigration policy of the second Trump administration

The shooting quickly became a political flashpoint,[10] and Reuters described Republican politicians as blaming the Biden administration for poor vetting even though the suspect was granted asylum under the Trump administration.[54] A number of Republican legislators also received criticism for their previous stance on immigration from Afghanistan, including Kentucky Representative Andy Barr.[55] Axios described Republicans as increasing anti-immigration rhetoric following the shooting with calls to "deport them all", with Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville calling on banning all Islamic immigrants and to deport "every single Islamist who is living among us just waiting to attack".[11] The New York Times described Trump as using the shooting to cast suspicion on all refugees without evidence. On November 27, when asked if he was considering deporting all Afghans based on the crime of one man, Trump said "No, but there's a lot of problems with Afghans", repeated claims of crime by immigrants and said he was "looking at" deporting the wife and children of the suspect. Trump then pivoted to discussing Somali refugees in Minnesota, saying they were "taking over" the state. When asked what Somali refugees had to do with the Afghan suspect, Trump responded "Ah, nothing, but Somalians have caused a lot of trouble, they're ripping us off a lot of money", referring to recent reports that Somali immigrants in Minnesota had funneled money to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab,[56] following which he proceeded to criticize Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar, who was born in Somalia.[12] The Associated Press reported that Afghan immigrants were afraid to leave their houses for fear of being deported or attacked with hate speech following the shooting, and refugee groups worried about Afghans being considered guilty by association.[57]

On November 27, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that all immigration applications for Afghan nationals were halted indefinitely, pending a review of security and vetting procedures.[58] Also, under President Trump’s direction, USCIS announced that it will re-examine all green cards issued to individuals from the 19 "countries of concern" listed in Proclamation 10949. USCIS said in a statement that when reviewing immigrants from those countries, the agency will now consider "negative, country-specific factors," including whether the country is able to issue "secure identity documents."[59] That evening, Trump announced on social media he would "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" and denaturalize migrants "who undermine domestic tranquillity", following which he proceeded to mock Minnesota Governor Tim Walz's intelligence regarding Somali immigrants and Ilhan Omar's hijab.[60][12]

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow tweeted that "USCIS has halted all asylum decisions".[61][62]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Douglas, Leah; Winter, Jana; Stewart, Phil (November 26, 2025). "National Guard soldiers shot in 'targeted' attack near White House". Reuters. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Shooting suspect drove across country to target Guard members: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  3. ^ "Governor: Two West Virginia National Guard members killed in Washington, D.C." WCHS-TV. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  4. ^ "D.C. Shooting Live Updates: Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House". November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  5. ^ "2 National Guardsmen shot near White House: Officials". ABC News. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c Barnes, Julian E.; Aleaziz, Hamed; Peltier, Elian; Padshah, Safiullah (November 27, 2025). "The D.C. shooting suspect had worked with C.I.A.-backed units in Afghanistan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  7. ^ Faguy, Amy (November 27, 2025). "National Guard shooting suspect worked with CIA in Afghanistan". BBC News. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Trump requests 500 additional National Guard troops sent to DC, Secretary of Defense says". CNN. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Trump Orders 500 More National Guard Troops to D.C. After Shooting". The New York Times. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Mason, Jeff; Ward, Jasper (November 27, 2025). "National Guard member dies as ambush in US capital becomes political flashpoint". Reuters. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  11. ^ a b Solender, Andrew (November 27, 2025). "Republicans push to "deport them all" after D.C. shooting". Axios. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  12. ^ a b c McCreesh, Shawn (November 27, 2025). "Trump Uses National Guard Shooting to Cast Suspicion on Refugees". The New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  13. ^ "D.C. Shooting Live Updates: Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House". The New York Times. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  14. ^ "Live updates: 2 National Guard members killed in D.C. shooting near White House". The Washington Post. November 26, 2025. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  15. ^ Tait, Robert (November 26, 2025). "Shock and dismay after national guard troops shot near White House". The Guardian. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  16. ^ "Trump sent soldiers to Washington to reduce crime. Now two are fighting for life". ABC News Australia. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  17. ^ Cheney, Kyle (November 20, 2025). "Judge rules Trump's DC National Guard deployment was illegal". POLITICO. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d Richer, Alanna Durkin; Field, Gary (November 26, 2025). "Two National Guard members shot just blocks from the White House". AP News. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Guardsmen appeared to be targeted, suspect not cooperating". CNN. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  20. ^ "Both guard members were shot in the head, sources say". NBC News. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  21. ^ a b "2 National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C., suspect in custody, officials say". CBS News. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  22. ^ a b "D.C. National Guard shooting investigation live updates as new details emerge about suspect". www.cbsnews.com. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  23. ^ Bateman, Tom (November 26, 2025). "Two National Guard members in critical condition after shooting near White House". BBC News. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  24. ^ "Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House". The New York Times. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  25. ^ Robles, Carlos (November 26, 2025). "Afghan suspect identified in shooting of 2 National Guard members in D.C." BNO. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  26. ^ "Terrorist Who Shot Two National Guard Members in D.C. Was Let into the Country by the Biden Administration's Operation Allies Welcome Program". United States Department of Homeland Security. November 27, 2025.
  27. ^ "What is Operation Allies Welcome, the program officials say brought the suspect to the US?". CNN. November 27, 2025.
  28. ^ "Operation Allies Welcome Fact Sheet" (PDF). 2021.
  29. ^ "Officials: National Guard shooting suspect lived in Bellingham, drove across country for attack". Cascadia Daily News. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  30. ^ Ray, Siladitya; Pequeño, Antonio (November 27, 2025). "What We Know About Rahmanullah Lakanwal: D.C. Shooting Suspect". Forbes. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Harte, Julia; Mutikani, Lucia (November 27, 2025). "What we know about Afghan national suspected of DC shooting". Reuters. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  32. ^ Boak, Josh; Finley, Ben; Izaguirre, Anthony; Richer, Alanna Durkin (November 27, 2025). "Trump says one of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot by Afghan national has died". ABC News. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  33. ^ Harris, Jeremy (November 27, 2025). "Bellingham neighbors react to FBI investigation of man accused in D.C. terror attack". KOMO-TV. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  34. ^ Jensen, Jim (November 27, 2025). "Bellingham, WA man under investigation after D.C. shooting of 2 Guard members". KCPQ-TV. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  35. ^ Perez, M.G. (November 28, 2025). "FBI director mentions possible San Diego connection to DC shooting suspect". KNSD-TV. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  36. ^ "W.Va. National Guard confirms identity of Guardsmen wounded in D.C. shooting". DVIDS.
  37. ^ "W.Va. National Guard Soldier dies following D.C. shooting". District of Columbia National Guard.
  38. ^ "Suspect who shot National Guard soldiers in DC worked with CIA in Afghanistan". BBC News. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  39. ^ "National Guard member dies after shooting in Washington DC". BBC News. November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  40. ^ "Roll Call Factba.se – Donald J. Trump's Public Schedule". Roll Call Factba.se. Archived from the original on November 27, 2025. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  41. ^ Trump, Donald (November 26, 2025). "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!". Truth Social. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  42. ^ Mackey, Robert; Popat, Shrai; Campbell, Lucy; Mao, Frances (November 26, 2025). "Washington DC shooting: video suggests 'lone gunman' shot two national guard members near White House, say Washington DC police – latest updates". The Guardian. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  43. ^ USA Today (November 26, 2025). "Vice President JD Vance asks for prayers for DC shooting victims". USA Today. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  44. ^ "Shooting to be investigated as possible act of terrorism, sources say". NBC News. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  45. ^ Romine, Taylor (November 26, 2025). "FBI director and US attorney general call for prayers after National Guardsmen shot". CNN. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  46. ^ "Congressional leaders react to shooting". NBC News. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  47. ^ "Patrick Morrisey, the governor of West Virginia, said in a statement that the two members of that state's National Guard who were shot had died". The New York Times. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  48. ^ "Bellingham officials respond to news of local ties to D.C. shooting". The Bellingham Herald. November 28, 2025. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  49. ^ "National Guard shooting reignites the debate over immigration and troop deployment". El País. November 28, 2025. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  50. ^ James, Sean (November 26, 2025). "'Disgusting Ghoul': White House Slams New Yorker Writer for Saying National Guard Should 'Never Have Been' in DC". Mediaite. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  51. ^ @realDonaldTrump (November 27, 2025). "Truth Details". Truth Social. Archived from the original on November 28, 2025.
  52. ^ Tanyos, Faris (November 28, 2025). "Trump says he will suspend immigration from all "Third World Countries"". CBS News. Archived from the original on November 28, 2025.
  53. ^ DHS (November 28, 2025). "Tweet". Twitter. Archived from the original on November 28, 2025.
  54. ^ Hesson, Ted; Reid, Tim; Winter, Jana (November 27, 2025). "Officials criticize Biden vetting, but Afghan shooting suspect was granted asylum under Trump". Reuters. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  55. ^ Wren, Adam (November 29, 2025). "Politico Newsletter". POLITICO. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  56. ^ Gaskins, Kayla (November 21, 2025). "Federal investigators warn Minnesota welfare fraud may have helped fund Al-Shabaab". WBFF Baltimore. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  57. ^ Bellisle, Martha (November 25, 2025). "Refugee groups worry about backlash after shooting of National Guard soldiers in DC". AP News. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  58. ^ Falconer, Rebecca (November 27, 2025). "Trump admin cracks down on Afghan immigrants after National Guard shooting". Axios. Retrieved November 27, 2025.
  59. ^ Iyer, Kaanita (November 27, 2025). "US will reexamine all green cards issued to people from 19 countries as Trump administration ramps up immigration crackdown". CNN. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  60. ^ @realDonaldTrump. "Truth Details". Truth Social. Archived from the original on November 28, 2025. A very Happy Thanksgiving salutation to all of our Great American Citizens and Patriots who have been so nice in allowing our Country to be divided, disrupted, carved up, murdered, beaten, mugged, and laughed at, along with certain other foolish countries throughout the World, for being "Politically Correct," and just plain STUPID, when it comes to Immigration. The official United States Foreign population stands at 53 million people (Census), most of which are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels. They and their children are supported through massive payments from Patriotic American Citizens who, because of their beautiful hearts, do not want to openly complain or cause trouble in any way, shape, or form. They put up with what has happened to our Country, but it's eating them alive to do so! A migrant earning $30,000 with a green card will get roughly $50,000 in yearly benefits for their family. The real migrant population is much higher. This refugee burden is the leading cause of social dysfunction in America, something that did not exist after World War II (Failed schools, high crime, urban decay, overcrowded hospitals, housing shortages, and large deficits, etc.). As an example, hundreds of thousands of refugees from Somalia are completely taking over the once great State of Minnesota. Somalian gangs are roving the streets looking for "prey" as our wonderful people stay locked in their apartments and houses hoping against hope that they will be left alone. The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both, while the worst "Congressman/woman" in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother, does nothing but hatefully complain about our Country, its Constitution, and how "badly" she is treated, when her place of origin is a decadent, backward, and crime ridden nation, which is essentially not even a country for lack of Government, Military, Police, schools, etc…
  61. ^ @USCISJoe (November 28, 2025). "USCIS has halted all asylum decisions until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible. The safety of the American people always comes first" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 29, 2025 – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Wise, Alana (November 28, 2025). "Trump administration pausing all asylum decisions after National Guard shooting". NPR.