White House Area Shooting: Afghan Migrant with CIA Ties Opens Fire on Soldiers
A violent shooting incident occurred near the White House on Wednesday afternoon, leaving two National Guard soldiers critically injured after being ambushed by an Afghan migrant who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan.
The attack took place at approximately 2:15 PM on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 near the Farragut Metro station in Washington DC. According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the gunman approached the soldiers and immediately began firing without warning.
Details of the Attack and Victims
Jeffery Carroll, an executive assistant chief at the Metropolitan Police Department, described the incident as a calculated ambush. "The suspect came around the corner and immediately started firing a firearm at the troops," Carroll stated during a press conference. "It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard."
Disturbing images from the scene showed one Guardsman bleeding on the floor, surrounded by shattered glass from a bus shelter. Both soldiers were reportedly shot in the head during the attack. Initial reports suggested the soldiers had died, but Governor Patrick Morrisey later clarified that his office was receiving "conflicting reports" about their condition.
FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that both men remain in critical condition following the shooting.
Suspect Profile and Background
The alleged shooter has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in September 2021 during the American withdrawal from Kabul.
CIA director John Ratcliffe revealed to Fox News that Lakanwal had direct links to the intelligence organization, having worked alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan. A relative told NBC that Lakanwal has a wife and five sons, and had previously been injured in Afghanistan while supporting US troops.
Ratcliffe criticized the decision to bring Lakanwal to the United States, stating: "The Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA. The individual – and so many others – should have never been allowed to come here."
However, CNN reported that Lakanwal's asylum status was actually granted in April 2025 by the Trump administration.
Political Fallout and Investigation
President Donald Trump responded forcefully to the attack, declaring it a "monstrous, ambush-style attack" and announcing that every Afghan national who entered the US in the last five years would be investigated.
"This attack underscores the single greatest national security threat facing our nation," Trump said. "I am determined to ensure the animal who perpetrated this atrocity will pay the steepest possible price."
Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage that appears to show the suspect approaching the soldiers and pulling out a gun. Authorities believe one of the reserve soldiers managed to exchange fire with the suspect during the confrontation.
The suspect was also shot during the incident and sustained injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. He is currently receiving medical treatment in hospital while under police guard.
Police have confirmed that no other suspects are being sought in connection with the shooting, and the motive behind the attack remains unclear at this time.
Eyewitness Accounts
Two women, Emma McDonald and Leila Christopher, exited the metro station just after the shots were fired and were immediately warned to "Run" by someone at the scene. They sought shelter in a nearby cafe.
One bystander told them they had heard six gunshots in quick succession. Several minutes later, McDonald witnessed an EMT truck arriving and responders rolling a stretcher carrying a National Guard member whose head was covered in blood.
A video of the aftermath appears to show soldiers and Secret Service agents struggling to detain the suspect as they pile on him to gain control.
Governor Morrisey expressed his concern for the injured soldiers, stating on X: "Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community."
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine the exact circumstances and motivation behind this alarming attack near the nation's capital.
