Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically wounded on Wednesday, November 26, in what officials describe as a “targeted” ambush just two blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. The attack has intensified political and legal tensions around President Donald Trump’s controversial deployment of thousands of National Guard soldiers to patrol the nation’s capital.
The shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. near 17th and I Streets NW, close to Farragut West Metro station and roughly two blocks northwest of the White House complex. Two Guardsmen from West Virginia, on foot patrol as part of a federal deployment, were shot — both reportedly struck in the head — in what law enforcement is calling an ambush-style attack. Witnesses described several shots in quick succession and scenes of people fleeing before first responders rushed in.
Officials say a single gunman approached the soldiers, opened fire at close range, and was then shot after at least one Guard member or nearby officer returned fire. The alleged attacker was taken into custody with serious but non–life-threatening injuries.
The two Guardsmen were transported to a local hospital and remain in critical condition, according to FBI Director Kash Patel and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Early statements from West Virginia officials briefly suggested the soldiers had died, but those reports were later walked back as more precise medical information became available.
Suspect identified as Afghan national
Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan man who entered the United States in 2021 and had been living in Washington state. Multiple outlets report that he came to the U.S. under a humanitarian or parole program after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Investigators say the motive remains under active investigation. Federal law enforcement is examining the shooting as a possible act of international terrorism, but officials have not yet publicly announced a definitive terrorism charge.
‘Targeted’ attack and security lockdowns
Mayor Bowser called the shooting a “targeted attack” on deployed Guard members, not random crossfire.
The area around the shooting scene was locked down for hours, with streets closed off and heavy security visible around Lafayette Square and the executive-branch complex. Nearby federal and private office buildings temporarily sheltered in place.
Because aircraft were involved in the emergency response, the Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted arrivals into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, compounding disruption for travelers on the day before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel days of the year. Normal air traffic resumed after a short ground stop.
Political and legal backdrop: Guard deployment already under fire
The attack comes against the backdrop of a large, highly controversial National Guard deployment to Washington. Since August 2025, roughly 2,100–2,375 Guard troops from multiple states have been stationed in the capital under a “crime emergency” order signed by President Trump, effectively placing military personnel in a domestic law-enforcement posture on D.C. streets.
Civil liberties groups, local officials, and several states have challenged the deployment in court, arguing that using out-of-state Guard units in the district without local consent violates the spirit, and possibly the letter, of the city’s Home Rule protections. Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled the deployment illegal and ordered the administration to begin withdrawing the troops, but put that order on hold until December 11 to allow for appeals.
Critics say the visible presence of armed soldiers has militarized routine policing and increased the risk of confrontations. Supporters in the administration argue that the deployment has coincided with a steep drop in reported crime, and they frame the shooting as evidence that the troops themselves are now potential targets.
Trump requests 500 more Guard troops after attack
Within hours of the shooting, President Trump — speaking from Florida, where he is spending the Thanksgiving holiday — asked the Pentagon to send an additional 500 National Guard troops into Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the request and said the reinforcements would be used to “reinforce security corridors” around key federal sites.
The move immediately drew fire from critics, including local politicians and some veterans, who warned that doubling down on militarization after a soldier-targeted attack could inflame tensions rather than calm them. A Democratic mayoral candidate and former Guard officer, for example, said the administration “knew what it was doing” by putting troops on street patrols in the first place and argued that the White House bears moral responsibility for the climate that produced the attack.
Reactions from West Virginia and beyond
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed that the wounded soldiers are members of his state’s National Guard and expressed “shock and anger” at the attack. He initially said the troops had been killed, before later clarifying that they were in critical condition after receiving updated information from federal authorities.
Across Washington, officials from the D.C. Mayor’s office, the FBI, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security pledged a joint investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are combing through the suspect’s travel and communication history and coordinating with international partners to determine any foreign links.
What investigators are focusing on
According to officials who briefed the press and major U.S. outlets, investigators are currently focused on several key questions:
- Motive: Whether the suspect was driven by extremist ideology, personal grievance, or some combination of factors.
- Target selection: Why National Guard members were chosen, and whether the suspect conducted prior surveillance of patrol routes.
- Possible accomplices: So far authorities say there is no evidence of additional attackers or a broader cell, but they are still reviewing electronic evidence and witness statements.
- Security implications: Whether patrol tactics or deployment locations should be altered, and how the shooting will affect the legal battle over the Guard’s mission in D.C.
Officials stress that the situation remains fluid and that details — especially about the suspect’s background and alleged motives — could change as more information becomes public.
The bigger picture
The attack has quickly become a flashpoint in debates over:
- Domestic use of military forces in U.S. cities and the legal limits of federal power over D.C.
- Immigration and vetting of Afghans and other migrants admitted under special programs after conflict zones.
- Terrorism definitions, as federal authorities weigh whether to formally label the incident an act of international terrorism or a different kind of violent crime.
For now, Washington is grappling with the immediate reality: two soldiers gravely wounded on a busy downtown street, a suspect in custody, and a capital already on edge facing the prospect of even more troops on its streets in the days ahead.
