Ambush Near White House Leaves Two National Guardsmen in Critical Condition; FBI Probes Possible Terror Links

Washington, D.C. – November 26, 2025  Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot in what authorities described as a "targeted ambush" near the White House. The incident, unfolding blocks from the executive mansion, has prompted a swift federal investigation into potential terrorism ties and an immediate bolstering of security forces in the city.

The attack occurred around 2:15 p.m. ET near the entrance to the Farragut West Metro station, a bustling hub in downtown Washington frequented by commuters and patrolling security personnel. According to Metropolitan Police Department Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll, the suspect emerged from around a corner, raised a handgun, and fired at the two Guardsmen who were conducting high-visibility patrols as part of a broader deployment amid heightened national security concerns. Both victims sustained gunshot wounds to the head and were rushed to separate local hospitals, where they remain in critical condition, officials confirmed during a joint press conference late Wednesday.

The suspect, identified by federal law enforcement sources as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national last known to reside in Bellingham, Washington state, was subdued in a chaotic exchange of gunfire with other nearby Guardsmen. Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021, was also shot during the confrontation—described by witnesses as a "back-and-forth" shootout—and is now in custody while receiving treatment for severe wounds at a local hospital. It remains unclear who fired the shot that struck him, though Carroll noted that the targeted Guardsmen were armed. A motive has not been publicly established, but investigators are scrutinizing Lakanwal's background for connections to international or domestic extremism, with the FBI initially classifying the shooting as a possible act of terrorism.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, addressing reporters alongside FBI Director Kash Patel, labeled the episode an "ambush-style targeted attack" against military personnel, emphasizing its brazen nature in broad daylight. "Today's attack on two members of the West Virginia National Guard was horrific and unconscionable," Bowser stated, underscoring the vulnerability of service members on routine duty. Patel echoed the sentiment, calling it a "horrendous act of violence" and confirming the FBI's lead role in the probe, with support from the Department of Homeland Security.Eyewitness accounts painted a scene of sudden pandemonium. Stacey Walters, a local nurse en route to a dry cleaner, recounted hearing multiple gunshots followed by cries of "Help! Help!" "I didn't know if it was the individual that was shot or someone yelling for help," she told The New York Times, describing how she ducked for cover amid the chaos.

Social media footage circulating online captured helicopters circling the secured perimeter and emergency responders airlifting one Guardsman to a trauma center, while another was transported by ambulance.

The White House was briefly placed on lockdown, and a ground stop was enacted at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport due to the proximity of the scene, though both measures were lifted by early evening.President Donald Trump, currently at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida for the holiday, was briefed on the incident and responded forcefully on his social media platform. "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price," Trump posted. "God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement."

In a decisive escalation, Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to the capital, joining roughly 2,200 already stationed there as part of ongoing operations tied to immigration enforcement and urban crime initiatives. "This happened just steps away from the White House," Hegseth said in a video statement. "It will not stand... This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington D.C. safe and beautiful."

The shooting has drawn widespread condemnation and prayers from across the political spectrum. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially announced the Guardsmen's deaths in a social media post, citing "great sorrow," but later retracted the statement amid "conflicting reports," aligning with federal updates on their critical status.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, urged people of faith to pray for the victims' recovery, adding, "Our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America."

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also weighed in on X, offering thoughts and prayers while monitoring developments.

This incident unfolds against a tense backdrop in Washington, where National Guard deployments have sparked debate over federal overreach in Democratic strongholds. The Guardsmen's presence near the White House—part of patrols aimed at deterring unrest—highlights ongoing frictions, reminiscent of past episodes like the 2020 George Floyd protests that saw similar mobilizations.

As the investigation deepens, questions swirl about Lakanwal's path to the U.S. and any radical influences, with authorities vowing a thorough examination of his digital footprint and travel history.