Ambush at the Nation’s Heart: Guardsmen Shot in Suspected Terror Attack
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s capital was rocked by a brazen, targeted attack the day before Thanksgiving, leaving two West Virginia National Guard members in critical condition after a shooting just blocks from the White House. The incident, which triggered an immediate lockdown of the White House complex, unfolded while President Donald Trump was in Florida. According to law enforcement sources, a suspect was swiftly taken into custody at the scene, but the event sent shockwaves through the city and prompted a massive emergency response, thrusting a holiday eve into chaos and raising immediate alarms about the motive behind the violence.
In a chilling update, law enforcement sources have identified the alleged gunman as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Lakanwal entered the United States legally under a humanitarian parole following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan but subsequently overstayed his visa granted under Operation Allies Welcome. Authorities are now investigating the daylight shooting as a possible act of international terrorism, a development that has intensified the scrutiny of the attack and the suspect’s background. The severity of the situation was initially miscommunicated, with West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey first stating both troops had been killed before correcting his statement amid conflicting reports.
The attack has galvanized a national response, with top military and government officials voicing outrage and vowing action. Top National Guard leaders, including Lt. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, cut short a Thanksgiving trip to Guantánamo Bay to return to Washington to support their fellow guardsmen, calling the violence a “senseless act.” Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy condemned the “cowardly” shooting and pledged a sweeping crackdown on security in public transit systems, warning he would withhold federal funding from cities that fail to respond adequately. As the two guardsmen fight for their lives, the investigation continues, leaving a city and a nation on high alert.
