WASHINGTON: Two U.S. National Guard personnel were critically injured after a gunman opened fire near the White House in Washington, D.C., prompting a swift lockdown of the area and an immediate security response.
According to American media reports, the shooting occurred just steps away from the presidential residence, sending shockwaves through the capital.
Police confirmed that the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody shortly after the attack. He reportedly arrived in the United States in 2021. The injured National Guard members were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
Following the shooting, law enforcement cordoned off the surrounding streets and advised citizens to avoid the I Street vicinity. The Department of Homeland Security stated that authorities are coordinating closely to gather all relevant information.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump had been fully briefed on the situation.
Reacting strongly, President Trump condemned the attack, calling the shooter a “beast” and declaring the assault on National Guard members an act of terrorism. He warned that the attacker would “pay a heavy price,” adding that the incident reflects “hatred and evil.”
Both injured Guardsmen were from West Virginia, and the state’s governor confirmed ongoing coordination with federal officials as investigations proceed.
In the aftermath of the shooting, flights at Washington’s Ronald Reagan Airport were temporarily grounded due to heightened security but resumed after a short suspension.
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