A shooting near the White House on Monday evening left two Virginia National Guard members critically injured and has prompted a federal terrorism investigation. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahman Allah Lakawal, reportedly entered the U.S. through the Biden administration’s “Welcome allies” program following the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021. Emerging reports indicate Lakawal had prior connections to U.S. intelligence agencies, raising complex questions about vetting protocols and national security.
The suspect in a recent shooting near the White House had previously worked with U.S. government entities, including the Central Intelligence Agency, according to reports. The incident, which left two National Guard members critically injured, is now being investigated as a potential act of international terrorism.
Rahman Allah Lakawal, 29, entered the United States following the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, arriving a month later through the Biden administration’s “Welcome Allies” program. The program, designed to assist Afghan allies, was considered controversial at the time of its implementation.
Intelligence sources revealed Lakawal had prior connections to various U.S. agencies, including the CIA, stemming from his work as part of a partnered force in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that Lakawal was permitted entry into the U.S. due to his “previous services,” but questioned the decision. “What should not have happened was allowing this person, or many others, to come here,” Ratcliffe said. “Our citizens and our military deserve better than to bear the consequences of these failures.”
The shooting occurred near the White House, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and a heightened security posture in the nation’s capital. The development raises questions about vetting procedures for individuals entering the country under special programs following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Federal investigators are currently treating the incident as a potential international terrorism case, while the two Virginia National Guard soldiers injured in the shooting remain hospitalized in critical condition. Washington D.C. Attorney General Janine Pirro announced that Lakawal faces up to 15 years in prison, with the possibility of additional charges, including attempted murder, pending his medical condition. He remains under heavy guard at a local hospital.
