Two National Guard Members in Critical Condition After Targeted Shooting Near White House

Two National Guard members remain in critical condition after they were shot just steps from the White House on Tuesday afternoon, in what officials describe as a deliberate attack on uniformed personnel.
The suspected gunman, identified by law enforcement as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was also injured and taken into custody.

Sequence of Events

Authorities say the shooting unfolded around 2:15 p.m. near the busy intersection of 17th Street NW and I Street NW, an area filled with commuters, hotels, and ongoing National Guard patrols.
According to police, the attacker emerged from around a corner and immediately opened fire on the troops positioned nearby.

Other Guard members in the area responded within seconds after hearing the gunshots. Police then confronted and shot the suspect four times, allowing officers and soldiers to restrain him and treat the wounded.

Victims in Critical Condition

The two injured Guard members were rushed to a local trauma center. Officials confirm both are alive but critically wounded.
Earlier statements claiming they had died were later corrected after state officials acknowledged receiving “conflicting information.”

Shooter Identified; Motive Unknown

Multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News that Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021.
Investigators have not yet identified a motive, though Washington’s mayor described the incident as a targeted attack on military personnel.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the case is now a federal investigation.

Trump Orders Additional Troops

President Donald Trump, speaking from Florida, condemned the shooting and said the attacker would face “a very steep price.”
He instructed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy 500 more National Guard troops to the capital, expanding the large-scale presence already active since August.

Hours after the attack, the administration filed an emergency legal motion attempting to preserve its ability to keep Guard units stationed long-term in the District after previous court challenges.

Crime Figures Under Guard Deployment

The National Guard was originally sent to DC as part of Trump’s crackdown on what he called escalating crime in the city.
However, his claim that DC had no murders in six months is not supported by police records, which show 62 homicides between 25 May and 25 November.
Despite this, overall crime has decreased since the Guard deployment began, although analysts caution it is unclear whether the troop presence directly caused the decline.

Chaos on the Streets

Witnesses described panic as the gunfire erupted.

“I heard two loud bangs,” said Stacy Walters, who was riding in an Uber when the shots rang out. “People started running in every direction.”

Another witness, Kojo, said his office shook loudly enough that coworkers believed a vehicle had crashed outside. “The look on my colleague’s face told me it was serious,” he said.

Investigation Continues

Police remain on the scene collecting evidence, and the suspect is being monitored under armed guard at a hospital.
Officials say further updates will be provided as more details emerge.