Federal sources confirm that the suspect who allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers Wednesday afternoon in Washington, DC, had connections to Bellingham in Washington state, adding a Pacific Northwest dimension to an incident federal investigators are treating as potential international terrorism.
Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation have identified the shooting suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, though authorities continue working to confirm additional biographical details and establish comprehensive timelines of his activities and movements.
Lakanwal is believed to have originated from Afghanistan and arrived in the United States in 2021 during the chaotic evacuation following the Taliban takeover, when the Biden administration facilitated the departure of tens of thousands of Afghans who had assisted American forces or faced persecution, according to three law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case.
Lakanwal applied for asylum protection in 2024 and was granted asylum status in April 2025 under the Trump administration, according to three law enforcement sources, a detail that complicates political narratives about border security and refugee screening given that both Democratic and Republican administrations processed his entry and asylum approval.
An FBI spokesperson released a brief statement acknowledging the investigation: “The FBI’s Washington Field Office is working with our law enforcement partners to investigate the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, DC, this afternoon. We have no further details to provide at this time due to the ongoing investigation.”
Law enforcement officials, working in coordination with the DC US Attorney’s office, are expected to provide updates on the suspect’s identity, charges being pursued, and investigative findings during a briefing scheduled for tomorrow morning, sources indicated.
Authorities initially identified the man in custody by running his fingerprints through law enforcement databases, which provided the preliminary name match, though investigators are conducting additional verification work to confirm identity with complete certainty, one law enforcement official stated.
Two National Guard troops sustained critical injuries and a person of interest is in custody following the shooting near the White House in Northwest Washington, DC, according to FBI Director Kash Patel and DC Police officials who provided initial briefings on the incident.
Several sources indicated the FBI will investigate the shooting under the framework of “international terrorism” protocols and is working to determine whether Lakanwal maintained ties to any international terrorist organisations, a designation that would dramatically alter the legal proceedings and potential charges compared to a domestic criminal case.
Metropolitan Police Department officials confirmed the gunfire erupted in the area of 17th and I streets Northwest on Wednesday around 2:15 p.m. Three shooting victims received medical treatment and were transported to hospital, DC Fire confirmed, though the third victim appears to have sustained less serious injuries than the two National Guard members.
“Two of our brave members of the National Guard and Department of War were brazenly attacked in a horrendous act of violence. They were shot. They’re in critical condition,” Patel stated during a news conference held shortly after the incident.
A high-ranking source revealed both soldiers sustained gunshot wounds to the head, injuries that typically carry grave prognosis even when victims survive initial trauma and reach medical facilities for emergency treatment.
The suspect was reportedly “down” at the scene, and Metropolitan Police Department confirmed he is in custody. Police have not yet officially identified the suspect publicly, though sources indicated the suspect’s identity matched that of a Washington state resident who relocated there from Afghanistan in 2021, with investigators continuing verification work.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey wrote earlier on social media platform X that he was receiving “conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members,” adding confusion during the chaotic initial hours. He had previously stated both troops had died, information that proved inaccurate as both remained alive though in critical condition.
“There were other members that were in the area. They were able to, after some back and forth, able to subdue the shooter and bring them into custody. Within moments, members of law enforcement in the area were also able to assist and bring that individual into custody,” Jeff Carroll, Metropolitan Police Department’s Executive Assistant Chief, stated during briefing.
