Two National Guard Members Shot Near White House in Washington, D.C.

 

Washington, D.C. — November 26, 2025 — Two members of the U.S. National Guard were critically injured Wednesday afternoon when a gunman opened fire on them in a “targeted” attack just blocks from the White House, authorities said. 

What happened

At approximately 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time, the two Guardsmen — both from West Virginia — were on a high-visibility patrol near the Farragut West Metro station, around 17th and I Streets NW, when a suspect suddenly “came around the corner” and opened fire, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said. 

According to police, the suspect fired multiple rounds before a third National Guard member returned fire, wounding the suspect and ending the attack. 

The suspect — described as a “lone gunman” — was taken into custody and transported to a hospital with serious but reportedly non–life-threatening injuries. 

Victims & Condition

The two injured Guardsmen were immediately rushed to separate hospitals. As of the latest reports, both remain in critical condition. 

Initial reports from West Virginia’s governor had mistakenly reported the Guardsmen dead, but he later clarified that their status was unclear after receiving conflicting updates.

The names of the victims have not yet been released.

Suspect & Investigation

Law enforcement sources identify the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who reportedly entered the United States in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program. 

Local and federal authorities, including the FBI and Homeland Security, are treating the shooting as a matter of national security. They have launched a full investigation into the suspect’s motive and background. 

At a press conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the attack as “a targeted shooting” and pledged full cooperation between local and federal law enforcement agencies to bring justice. 

Broader Context

The shooting comes amid controversy over the presence of National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C. Under an order issued in August 2025 by President Donald Trump, more than 2,000 Guard members from various states — including West Virginia — were stationed in the capital as part of a “crime emergency” initiative. 

Legal challenges followed: a federal judge recently ruled the deployment illegal, though the order was temporarily stayed pending appeal. 

Some critics warned that placing armed military personnel on U.S. streets could escalate risk for both civilians and service members. Internal Pentagon documents reportedly acknowledged the “heightened threat environment,” instructing the troops to operate in “buddy teams” and avoid leaving their hotels alone for safety reasons. 

The current shooting brings those concerns into sharp relief — illustrating the dangers that Guardsmen face while conducting domestic patrols in a charged and uncertain environment.

Response from Washington & Beyond

In response to the shooting, the Pentagon has pledged to send 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing the need to bolster security. Wikipedia+2The Guardian+2

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the attack an act that “will not stand,” while President Trump condemned the shooting on social media, calling it “a cowardly, dastardly act.”

“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement,” Trump wrote, adding that the shooter — now wounded — “will pay a very steep price.” Wikipedia+2The Guardian+2

Mayor Bowser appealed for calm and urged residents to stay vigilant but not panic, while local officials committed to a thorough investigation and prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law.” 

What’s Next

As investigators work to determine a clear motive, questions are already mounting about the security risks of deploying military personnel on routine patrols in civilian areas. The legal battle over the Guard’s presence in the District is expected to intensify, especially now that a serious attack has occurred.

For residents and visitors in the area, heightened security measures — including increased patrols and checkpoints — are likely in the days ahead.

And for the families, friends, and colleagues of the two wounded Guardsmen, the hope now rests on their recovery and on a full accounting of how and why such a brazen attack was allowed to happen — so that it never does again.