Two U.S. National Guard soldiers remain in critical condition following a brazen Shooting Near White House that occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the heart of Washington, D.C. The violent incident took place at the intersection of 17th and I Street NW, just a few blocks from the executive mansion, plunging the capital into a state of high alert and resulting in immediate lockdowns of nearby federal buildings. The attack has been described by witnesses as an ambush, where the gunman approached the uniformed personnel and opened fire without warning.
Law enforcement agencies responded swiftly to the Shooting Near White House, engaging the suspect in a gun battle that ended with the attacker being wounded and taken into custody. Authorities have identified the gunman responsible for the Shooting Near White House as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. Lakanwal had entered the United States in September 2021 as part of the evacuation efforts following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He had been residing in Washington state prior to traveling to the capital to carry out the attack. The investigation into the Shooting Near White House is now being led by federal agencies to determine the specific motive behind this targeted assault on military personnel.
Political Fallout from the Shooting Near White House
The repercussions of this Shooting Near White House were immediate and far-reaching within the U.S. government. President Donald Trump condemned the attack, labeling it an “act of terror” against American forces on domestic soil. In a direct response to the identity of the shooter involved in the Shooting Near White House, the administration announced an indefinite halt to the processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals. Furthermore, a comprehensive review has been ordered regarding the vetting procedures of refugees admitted under the previous administration’s evacuation program.
The two soldiers injured during the Shooting Near White House were members of the West Virginia National Guard. Although initial conflicting reports suggested fatalities, officials have clarified that both service members survived the initial trauma but are fighting for their lives in a local hospital. To prevent further incidents, the Pentagon has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to reinforce security. This Shooting Near White House has undeniably reignited intense debates regarding national security and immigration policies, with the capital city remaining on high alert as the investigation unfolds.
