Who is Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, National Guard shooting suspect?

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan nationwide, has been recognized because the gunman accused of taking pictures two Nationwide Guard members simply steps from the White Home on the day earlier than Thanksgiving, legislation enforcement sources instructed Fox Information Digital.

Lakanwal was taken into custody on Wednesday, with authorities saying each Guard members have been in crucial situation. Officers mentioned the taking pictures is being investigated as a doable act of worldwide terrorism.

Extra particulars about Lakanwal have slowly emerged within the hours after the taking pictures.

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Members of the Nationwide Guard collect after stories of two Nationwide Guard troopers being shot close to the White Home on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

Off to the US

Lakanwal legally entered the US in 2021 beneath humanitarian parole as a part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the nation. The operation aimed to assist and resettle weak Afghans, together with those that had assisted U.S. forces previously.

The suspect reportedly had his asylum utility authorized throughout the Trump administration.

Intelligence sources instructed Fox Information Digital that Lakanwal had a earlier relationship with a number of entities within the US authorities, together with the CIA, by way of his work as a member of a companion power in Kandahar.

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“Within the wake of Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the US in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. authorities, together with the CIA, as a member of a companion power in Kandahar, which ended shortly after the chaotic evacuation,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe instructed Fox Information Digital.

Streets are blocked following stories that two Nationwide Guard troopers have been shot close to the White Home in Washington, DC on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. (AP Picture/Evan Vucci)

LIFE IN THE USA

Lakanwal lived in Washington state, two legislation enforcement officers and an individual conversant in the case instructed The Related Press.

His former landlord, Kristina Widman, instructed the newspaper that Lakamal arrived in Bellingham, Washington, along with his spouse and 5 kids about 4 years in the past.

How he traveled the roughly 2,500 miles to Washington, D.C., previous to Wednesday’s taking pictures stays unclear.

How the taking pictures occurred

Jeffery Carroll, an government assistant to the D.C. police chief, mentioned investigators reviewed video exhibiting the assailant “rounding the nook” and instantly beginning taking pictures on the Guardsmen. Different Guardsmen ran over and tackled the gunman, and he was taken into custody. Investigators consider he was the one shooter.

Emergency companies collect in a cordoned off space the place Nationwide Guard troopers have been shot close to the White Home on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. (AP Picture/Mark Schiefelbein)

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Carroll mentioned it stays unclear whether or not a safety guard or a responding officer shot the suspect. He mentioned no motive has been established.

The alleged gunman was “critically injured” earlier than being taken into custody, President Donald Trump posted on his Reality Social account Wednesday afternoon.

Trump later mentioned the “heinous assault” was an “evil act.” [an] An act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a criminal offense towards our complete nation. It was a criminal offense towards humanity.”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser referred to as the assault a “focused taking pictures.”

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Officers didn’t instantly present updates on the extent of accidents to the Guardsmen or the suspect.

Brooke Singman and Emma Bussey of Fox Information contributed to this report.