He emerged from around a corner and opened fire directly at the soldiers
In the shadow of the nation's most guarded address, two soldiers on routine patrol became the targets of sudden violence — a reminder that proximity to power offers no immunity from rupture. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021, allegedly opened fire on National Guard members near the White House on a Wednesday afternoon in late November, wounding both critically before being shot and taken into custody himself. The FBI has assumed jurisdiction, weighing whether the act constitutes terrorism, while the nation pauses on the eve of Thanksgiving to reckon with the fragility beneath its symbols of strength.
- Two soldiers conducting a standard high-visibility patrol near the White House were ambushed at close range, both left in critical condition — the capital's sense of security shattered in an instant.
- The suspect, Lakanwal, was himself shot by responding Guard members and arrested at the scene, turning a moment of violence into a chaotic tableau that circulated rapidly online.
- The White House and surrounding federal buildings were locked down immediately, compressing the nerve center of American government into a posture of emergency on the day before Thanksgiving.
- The FBI is now leading the investigation under a terrorism framework, treating the attack as an assault on federal officers — a legal designation that elevates both the stakes and the scrutiny.
- The Trump administration responded by deploying 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, signaling that the breach has accelerated an already-heightened security posture across the capital.
On a Wednesday afternoon in late November, a shooting near the White House shattered what had been a routine security operation. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, allegedly stepped out from around a corner on 17th Street and I Street NW and opened fire on two National Guard soldiers conducting high-visibility patrols. Both were critically wounded. Nearby Guard members returned fire, injuring Lakanwal, who was then taken into custody and transported to a hospital.
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021, though officials were still working to verify the full details of his background and immigration history. His motive remained unclear, and investigators had not publicly identified any statements or ideology that might explain the attack. The White House and nearby federal buildings were briefly locked down, and Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the soldiers' critical status. President Trump acknowledged that the suspect had also been seriously hurt.
The FBI took the lead on the investigation, treating the incident as a possible act of terrorism and framing it legally as an assault on federal officers. The timing — one day before Thanksgiving — deepened the sense of shock for many Americans. In response, the Trump administration ordered 500 additional National Guard troops deployed to Washington, a significant reinforcement that underscored how seriously federal authorities were treating the breach and the broader vulnerabilities it exposed.
On a Wednesday afternoon in late November, two National Guard members on patrol near the White House were shot and critically wounded. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, allegedly emerged from around a corner on 17th Street and I Street NW and opened fire with a handgun directly at the soldiers. Other Guard members stationed nearby responded immediately. Lakanwal himself was shot during the confrontation and taken into custody, though he too sustained serious injuries.
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021, according to law enforcement sources who spoke to CBS News. Officials are still working to verify details of his background and immigration status. The motive for the shooting remains unclear at this stage of the investigation. The incident unfolded on what would have been a routine security operation—the National Guard members were conducting what authorities described as "high-visibility patrols" in the area, a standard protective measure around the nation's most sensitive buildings.
The immediate response was swift. The White House and nearby federal buildings were placed under lockdown as a precaution. Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel both confirmed that both soldiers had been transported to hospitals in critical condition. President Donald Trump acknowledged that the suspect had also been seriously injured. Images that circulated online showed Lakanwal being removed from the scene in handcuffs, stripped, and placed on a stretcher before being loaded into an ambulance.
The FBI has taken the lead in investigating the shooting and is treating it as a possible act of terrorism. The case is being handled as an assault on federal officers, a designation that carries significant legal weight. The agency is working to determine whether the attack was motivated by ideology, personal grievance, or other factors. At this point, investigators have not publicly disclosed any statements or manifestos from the suspect that might clarify his intentions.
The incident prompted an immediate security escalation in Washington. The Trump administration ordered 500 additional National Guard troops deployed to the city, a substantial reinforcement of the military presence already stationed there. The move signals both the seriousness with which federal authorities are treating the breach and the broader security concerns that have surrounded the capital in recent years. The shooting occurred just one day before Thanksgiving, a timing that added to the shock of the event for many Americans following the news.
Notable Quotes
Both soldiers are in critical condition— Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel
The suspect was also seriously injured— President Donald Trump
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would someone who entered the country legally in 2021 allegedly carry out an attack like this four years later?
That's the central question investigators are working through right now. There's no clear public motive yet—no statement, no manifesto. It could be ideology, personal crisis, or something we don't know about his time here.
The fact that he was shot too—does that suggest he was expecting to be stopped?
It's hard to say. He could have been prepared for armed resistance, or he could have simply been cornered by the other Guard members who responded. The details of that exchange aren't fully public yet.
Two soldiers in critical condition is serious. What does that mean for their recovery?
Critical means they're in the most unstable state—life support, intensive care. Some recover fully, some don't. We won't know for days or weeks what their prognosis is.
Why deploy 500 more troops instead of, say, more police or Secret Service?
The National Guard is already embedded in DC security. Adding more of them is faster than restructuring other agencies. It's also a visible show of force—a message that the government is responding decisively.
Does treating it as terrorism change how he'll be prosecuted?
Significantly. It opens up federal terrorism statutes, which carry harsher penalties and different investigative authorities. It also signals to the public that this isn't being treated as a random crime.