Afghan national accused of shooting 2 National Guardsmen in DC was in US illegally after overstaying visa: sources
The Afghan man suspected of shooting two National Guardsmen near the White House on Wednesday—who some believe may have acted as a terrorist—has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29. According to people familiar with the case, Lakanwal came to the United States under the “Operation Allies Welcome” program that once allowed roughly 90,000 Afghans to secure Special Immigration Visas during the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal. He settled in Bellingham, Washington, but his visa expired in September and he apparently remained in the country illegally.
At about 2:15 p.m. near the Farragut West Metro Station in northwest Washington, D.C., Lakanwal allegedly waited for a moment before opening fire. He struck a female guard in the chest and then fired at her again, killing her. A second guard was hit as well, but a third guard—standing nearby—intervened and brought the attacker down. Police reports say the suspect was shot four times and was taken in an ambulance almost naked.
The incident is currently being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, with the FBI conducting the initial review. No motive has yet been released. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment at the time of writing.
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