Lead: Two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot and remain in critical condition after a suspected targeted attack on Nov. 26, 2025, near the Farragut West Metro station a few blocks from the White House. The suspect, identified by investigators as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was detained after other Guard members intervened. Authorities say the shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. local time and briefly prompted a White House lockdown that was lifted by about 5 p.m. Federal agencies, including the FBI, are treating the event as an active criminal investigation while exploring possible links to international terrorism.
Key Takeaways
- Two National Guard service members from West Virginia were shot on Nov. 26, 2025, and remain in critical condition, according to law enforcement updates.
- The shooting took place at about 2:15 p.m. near the Farragut West Metro station, blocks from the White House; the area was briefly locked down until roughly 5 p.m.
- Investigators have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal; multiple sources say he is originally from Afghanistan and resettled in the U.S. in 2021.
- Sources say Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April 2025; those immigration dates are being reported by law enforcement sources.
- The FBI has opened an inquiry that includes probing whether the shooting was inspired by or connected to an international terrorist organization.
- About 2,188 National Guard personnel were assigned to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal deployment begun in August 2025.
- Officials scheduled a joint briefing at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday at the U.S. Attorney’s Office that was expected to include FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Background
The National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., was expanded in August 2025 under a federal deployment. Officials reported 2,188 Guard personnel were assigned to the city in the most recent update, a force intended to support security operations across federal facilities and high-profile events. The heightened deployment became a subject of political debate as critics questioned scale and duration while supporters pointed to public-safety benefits.
Washington has experienced periodic security incidents near the White House and major transit hubs in past years, prompting layered responses from local police, the U.S. Secret Service and federal partners. The Farragut West area sits at the intersection of multiple security perimeters and transit corridors, making it a sensitive location when an armed incident occurs. Agencies routinely coordinate rapid response plans for shootings and suspicious packages given proximity to executive offices and public thoroughfares.
Main Event
According to Metropolitan Police Department briefings, gunfire erupted at about 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday when the shooter rounded a corner near Farragut West and fired at National Guard members stationed near the route. Law enforcement said the assailant raised a firearm and discharged it toward the guards, striking two. Other Guard members immediately engaged and restrained the suspect after he was wounded and fell to the ground, authorities reported.
Local responders transported the suspect to a nearby hospital and detained him there; investigators later identified him as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. White House staff enacted a temporary lockdown as officers secured the scene and conducted searches; the security posture was relaxed later that afternoon after law enforcement cleared the immediate area.
Federal investigators, including the FBI, joined the Metropolitan Police Department to lead the criminal and counterterrorism components of the probe. Officials said they are examining motive, tactical planning and any possible ties to foreign extremist propaganda or networks. A public briefing by federal and local authorities was scheduled for 9 a.m. ET the following morning to provide additional details.
Analysis & Implications
The fact that two active-duty National Guard members were targeted near the seat of executive power elevates the event beyond a typical street-level shooting. If motive is confirmed as targeted, it raises questions about protective measures for uniformed personnel operating in public urban areas and whether existing perimeter protocols are sufficient for routine deployments. Agencies will likely reassess small-team positioning and sightline management around high-traffic nodes.
The FBI’s involvement and the mention of a possible international terrorism nexus change the investigative posture: evidence collection will extend to digital activity, travel and immigration records, and known intelligence reporting. Any corroboration of external-directed radicalization would create pressure for renewed domestic counterterrorism briefings and potentially broaden intelligence-sharing with allies about the suspect’s origin or contacts.
Politically, the shooting occurs amid heightened debate over the Guard deployment itself. Proponents point to rapid intervention by Guard members that subdued the suspect and limited further casualties, while critics may frame the incident as a consequence of either insufficient planning or the security strains posed by continued large-scale deployments in the capital. Either way, anticipatory policy conversations about force posture and rules of engagement are likely in the near term.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Guard personnel assigned to D.C. (Aug–Nov 2025) | 2,188 |
| Time of shooting | ~2:15 p.m., Nov. 26, 2025 |
| White House lockdown lifted | ~5:00 p.m., Nov. 26, 2025 |
| Suspect age | 29 |
The table places basic incident metrics in context: the Guard deployment figure (2,188) is the latest official count supplied by authorities, the shooting time and lockdown duration come from police statements, and the suspect’s age is based on law-enforcement identification. Comparing those items highlights how quickly security postures can change in the capital and how personnel numbers relate to operational coverage of sensitive areas.
Reactions & Quotes
Officials scheduled a formal news conference to update the public and press on investigative findings and security implications. The planned briefing included the FBI director and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to coordinate criminal and counterterrorism messaging to the public.
“They heard the gunfire and they actually were able to intervene and to hold down the suspect after he had been shot on the ground.”
MPD Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll
Chief Carroll’s remark summarized the immediate on-scene response by other National Guard members and local officers, emphasizing rapid intervention that prevented further harm. That description has been cited by multiple law enforcement sources to underscore the role of uniformed personnel in stabilizing the incident.
“We are treating this as an active investigation and exploring all leads, including potential international connections.”
Federal law-enforcement official (paraphrased)
Federal officials characterized the probe as broader than a local criminal inquiry, signaling the FBI’s counterterrorism remit. Analysts say that phrase typically triggers checks of international travel, communications, and known extremist messaging streams for possible indicators of direction or inspiration.
Unconfirmed
- The motive for the shooting has not been publicly verified; investigators are still determining whether the attack was ideologically driven or the result of a personal dispute.
- Reports that the suspect acted on direct orders from an overseas group remain unproven; the FBI has said it is exploring possible international links but has not confirmed direction or affiliation.
- Details about any accomplices or prior planning have not been confirmed publicly; no official timeline of the suspect’s movements prior to the shooting has been released.
Bottom Line
The incident on Nov. 26, 2025, that left two West Virginia National Guard members critically injured is both a criminal act and a potential national-security concern while investigators work to establish motive and any foreign connections. Rapid intervention by Guard colleagues and law enforcement limited the immediate threat, but the event raises urgent questions about force protection for uniformed personnel operating in public spaces near the nation’s executive complex.
Expect federal authorities to release further details after the scheduled briefing; if ties to international terrorism are corroborated, the case will likely prompt renewed operational reviews and possible policy responses on deployment, protective measures and interagency intelligence sharing. For now, the facts that are confirmed should guide public understanding, while several significant elements remain under active investigation.
Sources
- ABC News — U.S. national news outlet (reporting based on law-enforcement sources and official statements)