The White House was just a few blocks from the scene of the attack. Credit: OVSEGL
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, what was supposed to be a routine patrol just blocks from the White House turned into a horrifying scene after two National Guardsmen were shot and left in critical condition.
The attack occurred around 2:15 p.m. near the intersection of 17th Street and Eye Block, a busy area with office workers having lunch. Police said the gunman came around a corner and fired directly at the patrol, causing life-threatening injuries to the soldiers, before other units returned fire and overpowered them.
“This was a targeted shooting,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, stressing that investigators believe the gunman acted alone.
Suspect identified as Afghan national resettled in US in 2021
Authorities later identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Rakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021. Operational allies welcome – A Biden-era plan created to resettle Afghans who helped American troops during the war.
The man has no criminal history, and investigators are investigating the motive.
Lakhanwal applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved in April this year, according to a former Trump administration official cited by Reuters. Hours after the shooting, U.S. immigration officials announced they were immediately suspending all immigration applications from Afghan nationals while vetting procedures were reviewed.
The White House’s reaction was swift. President Donald Trump released a video from his Florida resort calling the attack “an act of evil, hate and terrorism” and vowing to review the status of all Afghans admitted to the country under the Biden administration. Vice President J.D. Vance went further, saying the incident proves the administration was right to tighten immigration enforcement.
Chaos in central Washington
The shooting occurred next to Farragut Square, a popular lunchtime park surrounded by cafes, restaurants and two subway stations. Witnesses described the moment of confusion and panic when gunshots rang out.
Mike Ryan, 55, said, “I heard what sounded like gunshots, so I ran away.” “When I came back, there were two soldiers on the ground and people were trying to resuscitate one of them,” he said.
Another witness, Emma McDonald, said she saw one of the victims being carried away on a stretcher with “a bloody head”.
National Guard troops have been stationed across Washington since August as part of President Trump’s controversial crime and immigration crackdown. About 2,200 soldiers are already deployed to the capital, and defense officials said 500 more were being sent in response to the latest attack.
President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the deployment has “eliminated” crime from the city, a claim that contradicts official police statistics.
