Liputan6.com, Jakarta Two West Virginia National Guard members were reportedly critically injured after a shooting in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
The tragic incident happened just blocks from the White House, near 17th and I Street NW, near the Farragut West metro station.
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The shooting of the National Guard in D.C. was described by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel as a "targeted attack" and ambush-style.
The two National Guard members are currently receiving intensive care at a hospital.
The Governor of West Virginia initially reported them dead, but later revised his statement, citing conflicting reports regarding the soldiers' condition.
A suspect was taken into custody at the scene, who also suffered gunshot wounds in the incident.
Chronology and Identity of the Shooting Suspect
A law enforcement official stated that the suspect "came around a corner" and immediately opened fire on the National Guard troops.
At least one of the injured soldiers returned fire.
Approximately 10 to 15 shots were fired during the incident, creating panic in the densely populated area.
Upon hearing the gunfire, other National Guard troops in the vicinity rushed to the scene and subdued the shooter after being shot himself.
The suspect in the shooting has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan citizen.
Based on available information, Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 and had been residing in Washington state.
Authorities believe the suspect acted alone in carrying out the attack.
Reactions After the Incident
The National Guard shooting in DC immediately sparked a wave of reaction from political leaders.
President Donald Trump, who was in Florida for Thanksgiving, strongly condemned the shooter's actions.
He called the shooter an "animal" and asserted that he would "pay a very high price" for his actions.
In a swift response, President Trump ordered the deployment of 500 National Guard members to Washington, D.C. to bolster security in the capital.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed that this troop increase was a direct request from the President.
President Donald Trump tonight condemned the shooting as a “heinous assault” and “an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”
The president said that US authorities believe the shooter is from Afghanistan and came to the United States in 2021.
Former President Barack Obama also condemned the shooting, stating that "violence has no place in America."
Victim Conditions and National Guard Deployment in D.C.
The two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot remain in critical condition.
Washington, D.C., currently has approximately 2,200 to 2,375 National Guard troops assigned to a joint task force.
West Virginia contributes the second-largest contingent to this deployment, with 416 troops, second only to the D.C. National Guard itself, which has 949 troops.
This large-scale deployment of National Guard troops has been a sensitive issue for months, particularly under the Trump administration.