Washington, 27 November 2025
Chaos erupted in the shadow of the White House yesterday afternoon when two West Virginia National Guard soldiers were gunned down in what authorities called a brazen and targeted ambush, raising fresh alarms about the militarisation of America’s streets.
The attack unfolded around 2.15pm near 17th and I streets NW, just blocks from the executive mansion. The troops, part of a federal deployment to bolster security in the capital, were conducting a high-visibility patrol when 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, allegedly opened fire at close range. Video footage reviewed by investigators shows a lone gunman approaching the pair before shots rang out, sending pedestrians scrambling for cover.
In the frantic aftermath, helicopters thumped overhead as medics rushed the wounded soldiers to hospital. Both remain in critical condition, with initial reports of fatalities swiftly retracted amid the fog of confusion. 9 Lakanwal was himself shot by fellow guardsmen during the confrontation and taken into custody with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. 0
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the scene as a “targeted shooting”, while President Donald Trump, briefed on the incident, branded the assailant an “animal” who would “pay a very steep price”. In a swift escalation, Trump ordered the deployment of 500 additional troops to the city, swelling the National Guard presence to over 2,700 despite a recent court ruling deeming much of the operation unlawful. 7 The move, aimed at curbing crime and immigration in Democratic-led urban centres, has drawn sharp criticism from civil liberties groups as a dangerous blurring of military and civilian lines.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking at a Kentucky army base, urged prayers for the guardsmen, calling them “the sword and shield of the United States”. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey echoed the sentiment, confirming the victims’ ties to his state and vowing support for their families. 1
As the FBI probes a possible motive, with no claims of responsibility yet emerging, the incident underscores a troubling surge in ambushes on law enforcement this year. Witnesses recounted the terror: one office worker, Emma McDonald, saw a soldier stretchered away, his head bloodied and a compression device strapped to his chest. 7
For a nation already fractured by debates over Trump’s crackdown, the shooting near the seat of power feels like a stark warning. As Thanksgiving approaches, questions swirl: who targets those tasked with protection, and at what cost does security come?
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