Shooting Near White House: Afghan National Critically Injures National Guard Members
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard are in critical condition after a shooting near the White House. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021 under a program initiated by the Biden administration. Lakanwal had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan and was granted asylum by the Trump administration. President Trump called the shooting an act of terror and criticized the immigration policies of his predecessor.
Lakanwal arrived in the US in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program aimed at protecting vulnerable Afghans. More than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US under this program. Lakanwal was granted asylum earlier this year under the Trump administration after applying in 2024. The shooting has left two Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, in critical condition.
The suspect, Lakanwal, will be charged with assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The administration is considering seeking the death penalty for Lakanwal. The motive for the attack is still under investigation, but it is being treated as an act of terrorism. The shooting took place in Farragut Square, a busy area near the White House.
President Trump has called for increased National Guard presence in the capital following the shooting. He criticized the Biden administration for allowing the alleged shooter into the country and emphasized the need for stricter immigration policies. Trump vowed to reexamine all aliens who entered the US under Biden. The administration has halted processing immigration cases related to Afghan immigrants pending further security review.
In conclusion, the shooting near the White House has left two Guard members in critical condition and raised concerns about immigration policies. The suspect, an Afghan national, arrived in the US under a program initiated by the Biden administration. President Trump has called for stricter immigration measures in response to the attack.