Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal? The suspect at the centre of the DC shooting explained

Washington has been shaken by the brazen daytime shooting of two National Guard members. Authorities say the suspect is an Afghan national, but the motive remains unclear. Here is a simple explainer of what has happened so far.

Who were the victims?

The Guard members have been identified as Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24. Both were hospitalised in critical condition after Wednesday's shooting.

They belong to the West Virginia National Guard, which sent hundreds of troops to the capital as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting mission that involved taking over the local police department. Nearly 2,200 Guard members were in Washington, D C for the mission.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey first posted online that two Guard members had been killed, but later corrected himself, saying his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition. He did not explain further.

Who is the suspect?

Authorities say the suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29.

Jeanine Pirro, the US attorney for the District of Columbia, said he “drove across the country” to launch an “ambush-style” attack using a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver.

Investigators reviewed video that showed the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately opened fire at the troops, said Jeffery Carroll, an executive assistant D.C. police chief.

At least one Guard member fired back, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorised to speak publicly. Troops then ran over and held the shooter down, Carroll said. He was taken into custody, and officials believe he was the only gunman.

Carroll added that it was not yet clear whether a Guard member or a police officer shot the suspect, and investigators still had no information on a motive. The suspect’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, an official said.

How did the suspect come to the US?

Officials say Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a programme that evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Around 76,000 people arrived under the scheme.

Supporters say the initiative protected people at risk of Taliban reprisals, while critics, including Donald Trump, have argued that the vetting process was too fast and left gaps.

Before coming to the US, Lakanwal worked with the American government, including the CIA, “as a member of a partner force in Kandahar”, according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. He said the relationship “ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation” of US troops.

A man in Afghanistan who identified himself as Lakanwal’s cousin said he was originally from Khost province and had worked in a special Afghan Army unit known as Zero Units, which were backed by the CIA and fought on the front lines. The cousin said Lakanwal began as a security guard in 2012, later becoming a team leader and a GPS specialist.

Lakanwal’s former landlord, Kristina Widman, said he had been living in Washington state with his wife and five children.

What charges does he face?

Pirro said Lakanwal currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. She added that the charges could be upgraded.

“We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree. But make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge,” she said.

Soon after the shooting, Donald Trump said he would send 500 more National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. It is not yet clear where these additional troops will come from.

As of early November, the D.C. National Guard had the largest presence with 949 members, while troops from West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama were also deployed.

A federal judge recently ordered an end to the Guard deployment but placed the order on hold for 21 days to allow time for the administration to withdraw the troops or appeal.

(With agency inputs)