Thursday afternoon, just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., two members of the U.S. National Guard came under fire in what city officials described as a “targeted ambush.”
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody after being wounded in a gunfight with responding troops.
Authorities say Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome — the program that evacuated and resettled many Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul — before being granted asylum earlier this year.
It has since emerged that Lakanwal previously served with the U.S.-backed Afghan paramilitary force, known as the “CIA-backed Zero Unit,” during America’s war in Afghanistan.
In the wake of the attack, which killed 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and left 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe is in critical condition — the U.S. government moved swiftly.
The processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals has been suspended, and a sweeping review of asylum and resettlement protocols has been ordered.
President Donald Trump — in a video message — called the shooting “a crime against our entire nation” and demanded a full reassessment of all Afghan refugees admitted under previous administrations, arguing that “if they can’t love our country, we don’t want them.”
Here’s what is known — and what remains uncertain so far about why Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fire, and what his background appears to be in the dark. Much rests on the ongoing investigation.
What is known about his background
- Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national who came to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome — the resettlement program for Afghans evacuated after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- He was granted asylum in 2025 (applied in 2024, accepted earlier this year).
- Before coming to the U.S., Lakanwal reportedly worked with U.S.-backed forces in Afghanistan. Specifically, he served in a partner unit allied with the CIA — sometimes referred to as the “Zero Units,” a paramilitary or counter-terrorism affiliated force.
- He lived in Washington state with his wife and five children before allegedly traveling to Washington, D.C. for this incident.
So—he was not just “passing time.” He had a history of military or paramilitary work in Afghanistan, then resettled in the U.S. under asylum, and apparently was living a family life in Washington state.
What about motive —
- As of the latest public briefings, investigators say they do not yet know a motive. The attack is being treated as a “targeted ambush,” not a random act.
- Video reviewed by police shows the suspect “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the Guard patrol. The two victims were on “high-visibility patrol” near the White House.
- The suspect apparently drove across the country from Washington state to D.C., per officials. That suggests planning rather than impulsive violence.
- Federal authorities — including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — have seized electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.) from Lakanwal’s home and are still examining communications, history, and contacts to determine motive and whether there are any broader links (terrorism, organized plot, or individual reasons).
- Prosecutors have charged him with assault with intent to kill and weapon-possession crimes; they’ve also said ifthat the victims die, first-degree murder charges may follow.
In short, despite the planning involved (cross-country travel, choosing a high-profile target, using a revolver) and his background, no clear motive has been publicly disclosed yet.
What remains uncertain — and why we don’t yet have answers
- Lakanwal has not publicly explained why he did it (if he even will). According to some sources, he is “not cooperating” with investigators so far.
- Investigators are still combing through device data, interviewing relatives and acquaintances, and looking into possible ideological or personal motivations — but as of now, nothing definitive has been released.
- It is unclear whether the shooting was motivated by political ideology, personal grievance, mental health issues, or some other factor. That uncertainty complicates classification (terrorism, hate crime, personal vendetta, random violence, etc.)
Authorities are still investigating and analyzing digital evidence, communications, social connections, possible radicalization, or personal problems.
Until they publicly release findings or the suspect speaks under interrogation, the motive remains unknown.
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