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National Guardsmen shot in Washington DC: What happened, who’s the suspect? | Donald Trump News

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Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were seriously injured after being shot near the White House. Officials described the attack as “targeted firing”.

United States President Donald Trump condemned the shooting, calling it a “heinous attack” and an “act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror.”

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The shooting happened just a day before the Thanksgiving holiday in a busy tourist area.

Here’s what you need to know about the shooting, the alleged attacker and what’s next:

What happened in Washington DC?

Police say a lone suspect opened fire on a member of the National Guard at around 2:15 pm local time (19:15 GMT).

The suspect was also shot during the confrontation, was taken to hospital for treatment and remains in police custody.

“It appears to be a lone gunman who took a gun and ambushed these members of the National Guard,” Acting Assistant Chief of Staff Jeffrey Carroll told reporters.

According to a CNN report, the suspect approached three National Guard members, who were unaware of him until he opened fire. He shot one guard, then another, before standing over the first victim and attempting a second shot. At that time, the third guardsman returned fire.

Trump was in Florida at the time of the incident.

About 2,200 National Guard members have been deployed to the US capital, including 925 from the DC National Guard and more than 1,200 from other states.

Law-enforcement officers secure the area after a shooting in downtown Washington on November 26, 2025.
Law enforcement officers secure an area after a shooting in downtown Washington, DC, November 26, 2025 (AFP)

What is the National Guard?

The National Guard is a reserve branch of the U.S. military that can be called up during domestic emergencies, such as natural disasters or civil unrest, and can also support missions overseas.

It consists of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard and has approximately 431,000 members, making it the second largest military force in the country.

Each US state and territory, as well as Washington, DC, have their own National Guard units. These units answer to both state leaders and the federal government. This differs from the regular US Army, whose active-duty members serve full-time under federal command.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey said the two soldiers injured Wednesday were members of the West Virginia National Guard.

Last week, a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, DC, ruling that the move was likely unlawful. After the firing, the Trump administration sought to reverse that decision.

A member of the US Secret Service stands guard in a cordoned off area after two members of the National Guard
A member of the US Secret Service stands guard in a cordoned off area after two National Guard members were shot near the White House on November 26, 2025 (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Where did the shooting take place?

The shooting took place in Farragut Square – a tourist-heavy area located near a busy transit hub and the White House.

Designed by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791, Farragut Square is a landmark of downtown Washington, DC.

The area, where lampposts are wrapped with wreaths and bows for the holiday season, is lined with fast-casual restaurants and a coffee shop, as well as two stops on the Washington Metro system.

Who is the suspect?

Investigators have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Lakanwal arrived in the US from Afghanistan in September 2021 through Operation Ally’s Welcome – a program launched under the Joe Biden administration to resettle Afghans after the Taliban gained control following the US withdrawal.

“I can report tonight that based on the best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is an alien who entered our country from Afghanistan – a hell on Earth,” Trump said in a video message.

What is Operation Ally’s Welcome?

Operation Ally’s Welcome was a US program launched in 2021 to help Afghans who fled their country after the Taliban took control. Many of these Afghans worked with US troops as interpreters, drivers or support staff and feared they might be targeted. Others, such as journalists and women’s rights activists, were also at risk.

Under the program, thousands of Afghans were transported to US military bases, where they were medically examined, vaccinated and completed the immigration process. They also had to undergo security checks before being transferred to communities across the country.

According to the Congressional Research Service, about 76,000 Afghans entered the US through the initiative, which lasted about a year. The program later faced criticism from some Republicans who argued that the vetting process was inadequate.

What will happen next?

In response to the attack, Trump announced plans to expand deportation efforts and said his administration would re-screen Afghans who arrived after the Taliban took over. “We must now double-check every single foreigner entering our country from Afghanistan,” he said.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services said it was pausing the processing of all Afghan immigration requests “pending further review of security and screening protocols.”

Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an additional 500 National Guard members from one state would be sent to Washington, D.C., to increase security and reassure the public.

What have been the reactions?

In his statement, Trump said he was “determined to ensure that the animal who committed this atrocity pays the harshest price possible”.

“We are not going to tolerate these types of attacks on law and order by people who should not be in our country,” he said.

Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, a coalition that assists Afghans seeking immigration, said the organization believes the attacker should face “full accountability and prosecution.” But he warned that the incident should not be used to “defame the Afghan community”.

Former President Joe Biden said he and his wife, Jill, are “disheartened” by the firing.

“Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all be united against it. We are praying for service members and their families,” Biden wrote on the X.

Former US President Barack Obama shared a post on social media condemning the attack and said, “There is no place for violence in America.”

Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the head of the National Guard, said he was returning to Washington, D.C., from Guantanamo Bay, where he was going to celebrate Thanksgiving with U.S. troops at the base.





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