Two National Guard Soldiers Shot Near White House in Suspected Targeted Attack

Two National Guard Soldiers Shot Near White House in Suspected Targeted Attack

Two members of the National Guard were critically injured on Wednesday after being gunned down in Washington DC, less than two blocks from the White House, in what Mayor Muriel Bowser described as a “targeted shooting.”

According to police, a lone suspect opened fire on two West Virginia National Guard soldiers near Farragut Square at about 14:15 EST, before other Guard members in the area subdued him. The shooting sent panic through one of the capital’s busiest office districts.

President Donald Trump, speaking from Florida, identified the alleged gunman as an Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021. He vowed that the attacker would “pay the steepest possible price” for what he termed “an act of terror.”

The Department of Homeland Security later named the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakamal, describing him as a “criminal alien from Afghanistan.” His immigration status remained unclear. Tens of thousands of Afghans were admitted into the U.S. after the 2021 withdrawal under former President Joe Biden, a programme Trump now says must be “re-examined.”

In response to the attack, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the suspension of all Afghan immigration processing pending a review of vetting procedures.

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FBI Director Kash Patel, whose agency is leading the investigation, called the incident a “brazen and horrendous act of violence.” Metropolitan Police officials said the suspect “came around the corner” and immediately opened fire, ambushing the soldiers. The alleged gunman was shot four times during the confrontation and was not cooperating with investigators.

Conflicting reports emerged Wednesday night regarding the condition of the victims. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced their deaths before issuing a clarification citing uncertainty from medical officials.

The shooting briefly halted flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, intensifying security concerns on the eve of the Thanksgiving holiday. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with people running for cover as gunfire rang out. Footage captured by bystanders showed the two soldiers being treated on the pavement alongside the wounded suspect.

Following the attack, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Trump had ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington DC. Nearly 2,200 Guard members from multiple states are already stationed in the capital as part of an ongoing federal response to violent crime.

While overall crime in the city has fallen since the deployment — with 62 homicides recorded between late May and late November, compared to 107 in the same period last year — Trump has been criticised for sending Guard units into Democratic-led cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Memphis. Critics have accused the administration of federal overreach, while Trump insists the action is necessary to restore public safety.

The motive behind Wednesday’s attack remains unknown. Police and federal investigators continue to examine whether the shooting was ideologically driven or personally motivated.

Two National Guard Soldiers Shot Near White House in Suspected Targeted Attack

BBC