WASHINGTON (AP) — A brazen daytime shooting occurred in the nation's capital, targeting two National Guard members. The incident has raised a multitude of questions, particularly regarding the health of the injured soldiers and the background of the shooter. FBI Director Kash Patel and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed that both Guard members are in critical condition and are part of a larger deployment of nearly 2,200 troops in D.C. under a crime-fighting initiative. Initially, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey misreported that both troops had died, later clarifying that conflicting reports about their condition were being received.
Mayor Bowser labeled the shooting a 'targeted attack' as investigators revealed that video footage showed the assailant approaching the soldiers before opening fire with a revolver. One of the Guard members reportedly exchanged gunfire with the shooter before being injured. The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in September 2021, was captured and is currently under investigation. The suspect had previously been relocated as part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, aimed at resettling Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal.
In response to the incident, Trump announced an additional deployment of 500 National Guard troops to D.C. as officials confirmed ongoing investigations into the suspect's motives and background. As this story develops, concerns mount over security and the safety of military personnel in urban environments.
Mayor Bowser labeled the shooting a 'targeted attack' as investigators revealed that video footage showed the assailant approaching the soldiers before opening fire with a revolver. One of the Guard members reportedly exchanged gunfire with the shooter before being injured. The shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in September 2021, was captured and is currently under investigation. The suspect had previously been relocated as part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, aimed at resettling Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal.
In response to the incident, Trump announced an additional deployment of 500 National Guard troops to D.C. as officials confirmed ongoing investigations into the suspect's motives and background. As this story develops, concerns mount over security and the safety of military personnel in urban environments.
