Two National Guard Troops Shot Near White House, Afghan National In Custody

Two National Guard troops were shot near the White House on Wednesday afternoon.

Both of the troops targeted in the attack are from West Virginia and were in uniform when they were shot. A senior U.S. official told NBC News that both of the National Guardsmen were shot in the head, and the suspect reportedly used a handgun.

The suspected gunman was identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who came to the United States during the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from the country in 2021. The male suspect was critically wounded and taken into custody. The FBI will reportedly investigate the shooting as an act of terrorism.

Lakanwal was allowed to enter the United States under Operation Allies Welcome, and he settled in Bellingham, Washington.

A little over an hour after the shooting, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said that both of the National Guard troops had died, but he later walked back his statement and said that there were “conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members,” adding that he “will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information.”

President Donald Trump said that both of the troops were “critically wounded” and were being treated “in two separate hospitals.”

“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” Trump said.

The president was not at the White House at the time of the shooting as he traveled to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida earlier on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the shooting was “a cowardly, dastardly act targeting the best of America, heroes willing to serve in Washington, D.C.” He added that President Trump has requested that 500 additional National Guardsmen be deployed to the capital following the shooting.

“This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful,” Hegseth said.

The suspected shooter acted alone, according to a D.C. police official who spoke to The New York Times. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack on National Guardsmen a “targeted shooting.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that National Guardsmen had been shot, saying, “Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C. @DHSgov is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.”

Video taken near the Farragut West metro station showed a massive police presence following the shooting.

BREAKING — massive police and National Guard presence at Farragut West metro station. A block from White House. pic.twitter.com/Hz2wjjWa6d

— Jay O’Brien (@jayobtv) November 26, 2025

Over 2,300 National Guard troops have been deployed to D.C. by Trump as he seeks to address violent crime in the nation’s capital. Trump’s National Guard deployment in D.C. and other cities around the country has been met with backlash from the Left.

This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.