Two National Guard members were critically injured Wednesday afternoon in a shooting near teh White house, prompting a swift law enforcement response and raising security concerns in the nation’s capital. the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahman Allah Lakawal, an Afghan national, is in custody following an exchange of gunfire with police, according to authorities [[1]]. president Trump has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. in the wake of the incident [[3]].
صدر الصورة، Reuters
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- Author, آنا فاغي
- Role, واشنطن بي بي سي
Two members of the National Guard were critically injured Wednesday afternoon after being shot near the White House in Washington, D.C.
Both National Guard members remain in critical condition. The suspect, identified as an Afghan national, is in custody.
In response to the attack, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to the streets of the capital.
What Happened?
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The shooting occurred at approximately 2:00 PM Eastern Time (7:00 PM GMT) on Wednesday. The suspect opened fire on two National Guard members, both from West Virginia, near Farragut Square in downtown Washington, D.C.
The soldiers were in a patrol vehicle near the intersection of 17th and I Streets, an area frequented by office workers during lunchtime.
According to Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll, the suspect “came from the corner of the street” and “immediately began shooting,” adding that the soldiers were “ambushed.”
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a targeted attack.
Given the shooting’s proximity to the White House – just a few blocks away – numerous law enforcement officials quickly responded to the scene to provide aid to the victims and apprehend the shooter.
Officials stated Thursday that the guardsmen were transported to a hospital and remain in critical condition.
Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and was not at the White House at the time of the shooting.
Who is the Suspect?
The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Rahman Allah Lakawal, describing him as a “foreign national from Afghanistan.”
Law enforcement sources told CBS News, a U.S. news partner of the BBC, that police shot the suspect four times during his arrest.
Image caption, Reuters
Officials said Lakawal is 29 years old and has been uncooperative with authorities.
He reportedly arrived in the United States in 2021.
He had been living in Washington state with his wife and five children.
How Did the Suspect Enter the United States?
Lakawal reportedly arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 as part of the “Operation Allies Welcome” program for Afghan nationals during the Biden administration.
This followed the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan.
The Congressional Research Service estimated that approximately 77,000 Afghans entered the United States under special humanitarian parole procedures, valid for roughly a year after the withdrawal.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday that Lakawal had a connection to U.S. forces in Afghanistan and had worked with the CIA.
Lakawal filed for asylum in the United States in 2024, and his application was approved earlier this year, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Following the revelation about the suspect, Trump stated that the U.S. should now “reevaluate all foreigners who have entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.”
The President also suspended processing of all Afghan immigrant applications.
What Charges Will Be Filed?
U.S. Attorney Janine Pirro said Lakawal will be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill with a dangerous weapon.
He will also face a charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
If convicted on the first charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.
How Did the Trump Administration Respond?
Hours after the shooting, Trump released a video statement from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Trump described the shooting as an “act of terror” and a “crime against humanity.”
He also called Lakawal an “animal” who shot the guards “at close range in a brutal ambush just steps from the White House.”
In response to the shooting, Trump announced he would deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops.
Approximately 2,200 National Guard troops are already stationed in the city.
The National Guard is a reserve force that can be activated to serve as a military force, but its powers are limited and do not include law enforcement or arrest capabilities.
Trump had previously deployed troops in August to address what he described as “out of control” crime in the capital.
Who Are the Victims?
The victims have been identified as Sarah Beecroft, 20, and Andrew Wolf, 24.
U.S. Attorney Janine Pirro said the soldiers were wearing the uniform of the West Virginia National Guard.
Image caption, Reuters
“They were in the nation’s capital to keep it safe,” Pirro said at a press conference Thursday.
“They volunteered, as many soldiers do, to allow others to go home and spend the holidays with their families, but their families are now in hospital rooms with them as they fight for their lives.”
Despite leaving the operating room, both Beecroft and Wolf remain in critical condition.
