Gunman Who Shot National Guardsmen Identified As Afghan National

The gunman who allegedly shot two West Virginia National Guard personnel has been identified as an Afghan national, according to a senior official and multiple media outlets.

Law Enforcement officials told CBS News that the suspect was Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who first entered the United States in 2021. A senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed the suspected shooter’s nationality to the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The National Guardsmen were shot roughly a mile from the White House and are in critical condition after initial reports indicated they had been slain. (RELATED: Democrat Who Pushed Video Telling Troops To Disobey Trump Forced To Admit She Can’t Name One Illegal Order)

🚨LE source in D.C. tells me the National Guardsmen shooting suspect is an Afghan national who used a revolver.

A National Guardsman, who was not armed with a firearm, used a pocket knife to stab the suspect. Another Guardsman responded to the gunfire and shot the suspect…

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) November 26, 2025

The suspect shouted “Allahu akbar!” before opening fire with a revolver, according to journalist Julio Rojas. One National Guardsman on the scene stabbed the gunman with a pocketknife before another one fired multiple shots that struck the assailant, Rojas reported.

President Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to combat crime in the District of Columbia on August 11, days after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine, known by the moniker “Big Balls,” was severely injured when he attempted to stop a mob from carrying out a carjacking.

MPD reportedly has the suspect in custody while the FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism, according to NBC News.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].