US pauses Afghan immigration requests after National Guard shooting
WASHINGTON, DC — Two National Guard members are in critical condition after they were shot in what officials described as a "targeted" ambush near the White House on Wednesday.
The victims, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were "ambushed" by a lone gunman outside a subway station in the heart of the nation's capital, Jeffery Caroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack a "targeted shooting."
The troops were part of a "high-visibility patrol" at around 2:15 p.m. ET near the corner of 17th and I streets, about two blocks from the White House, when the shooting occurred, officials said. The suspect, who was in custody, was also shot and subdued by other guard members nearby.
The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, but officials said the suspect appeared to have acted alone . A Justice Department official told Reuters the shooting was being investigated as an act of terrorism.
Reuters, citing an anonymous official, reported that the suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021. USA TODAY has reached out to the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and Metropolitan Police for confirmation.
The identities of the victims have not been made public. Earlier on Wednesday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey had erroneously reported the troops had died.
"Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition, and their families," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation's capital."
The White House was locked down after the shooting , which was later lifted at around 5 p.m. ET, ABC News reported . The shooting comes as thousands of troops have been deployed for months across Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump 's efforts to combat crime in the nation's capital.
National Guard shooting: Trump says suspect will pay 'steep price'
Trump declares shooting as 'heinous assault'
In a video statement from Palm Beach, Florida , Trump said the Department of Homeland Security "is confident" the suspect being held in connection with the shooting entered the United States from Afghanistan.
Trump repeatedly used anti-immigrant rhetoric and reiterated that the suspect in the shooting will pay the "steepest possible price." He called Afghanistan "a hell-hole on Earth" and said that the suspect was "flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021."
Trump claimed that the Biden administration let in "20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners" and said that the U.S. must "re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden."
He also declared the shooting as an "heinous assault" and an "act of terror." Trump confirmed that he has directed the Pentagon to mobilize an additional 500 Guard troops to the capital in response to the shooting.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump called the suspect an "animal" in a social media post and said the Pentagon was prepared to deploy more troops. Trump is at his residence in Palm Beach for the Thanksgiving holiday.
— James Powel and Thao Nguyen
Citizenship and Immigration Services pauses applications from Afghan nationals
Following Trump's statement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it was pausing all immigration applications from Afghan nationals.
"Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols," the agency said in a post on X .
— Thao Nguyen
What we know about the suspect
The identity of the suspect has not been made public by law enforcement officials. Reuters reported that investigators identified the suspect as Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national from Washington State, citing an anonymous Justice Department official.
Lakanwal came to the U.S. in 2021 on a special visa program for Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the Afghanistan war and were vulnerable to reprisals from the ruling Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal, the official told Reuters. But Lakanwal overstayed his visa and is in the country illegally, the official said.
In a post on X , Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the suspect entered the country from Afghanistan in September 2021 under a Biden administration program called Operation Allies Welcome.
— James Powel and Thao Nguyen
Graphics: How the DC National Guard shooting unfolded
Advocacy group: Shooting should not be used to 'diminish an entire community'
Shawn VanDiver, the president of #AfghanEvac, said the organization is "deeply saddened by the tragic attack" in D.C. He noted that the group supports the suspect "facing full accountability and prosecution under the law."
"We reject and condemn anyone who uses, or seeks to use, violence, and we stand with every American who is horrified and saddened by this crime," VanDiver said in a statement . "There is no excuse — no context, no grievance, no ideology — that justifies the actions of the shooter."
VanDiver also underscored that the suspect’s actions should not be "used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community."
"Afghan immigrants and wartime allies who resettle in the United States undergo some of the most extensive security vetting of any population entering the country," VanDiver said. "As with any serious crime, authorities will examine how this happened and whether any systems failed — and we support a fact-based review. But nothing we learn will change the simple truth that this individual alone is responsible for his actions."
#AfghanEvac is an advocacy group and coalition that helps resettle Afghans who assisted the U.S. government and military in Afghanistan.
— Thao Nguyen
West Virginia governor says he spoke with Trump
In a video statement on Wednesday night, Morrisey said he had spoken with Trump following the shooting. The governor called the attack "an act of unspeakable violence."
"Earlier today, two West Virginia National Guardsmen were brazenly shot in Washington, D.C.," Morrisey said. "Our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers, go out to the brave service members, their families and the units who are enduring this terrible tragedy."
— Thao Nguyen
'They heard the gunfire': What we know about the suspect in DC National Guard shooting
Trump's National Guard deployments around US
Trump has made nationwide deployment of the National Guard a recurring theme of his administration for the last six months. The Republican president has said such efforts are needed to combat urban crime in “troubled” Democrat-led U.S. cities, despite widespread opposition from state and local leaders.
On Aug. 11, Trump declared “a crime emergency” in Washington and deployed thousands of National Guard troops to the city “to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.”
Trump has also threatened to deploy National Guard troops to cities such as New York, Baltimore, New Orleans, St. Louis and Charlotte, North Carolina, even as such efforts have drawn backlash and been repeatedly blocked in court. Read more here .
— Marc Ramirez
Obama and Biden express prayers after DC shooting
In separate statements on Wednesday, former President Barack Obama shared his condolences for the victims in the shooting.
"Violence has no place in America," Obama said in a post on X . "Michelle and I are praying for the servicemembers shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances."
Biden echoed the sentiment, saying that violence is unacceptable.
"Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House," Biden said on X . "Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families."
— Thao Nguyen
Veterans group says shootings illustrate risks of open-ended domestic deployment of military
Common Defense, a veterans group, said it was “shocked and heartbroken by the shooting” of two National Guard members. The group said the shooting underscored the “grave risks created when troops are deployed domestically for political purposes.”
"As veterans who have served overseas, we have tried to sound the warning that this administration is trying to manufacture a war on American streets," Perry O’Brien Hill, an Army veteran and senior campaigns director for Common Defense, said in a statement.
"We know who pays the price for these dangerous political stunts. These open-ended domestic deployments must stop so our National Guard members can return home to their families."
— Bart Jansen
Chief of the National Guard Bureau will travel to DC
Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, said in a video statement Wednesday that he and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines will be leaving Guantanamo Bay to be with Guard members in D.C. The two officials were planning to be with troops in Guantanamo Bay for the Thanksgiving holiday.
"We are devastated by this senseless act of violence,” Nordhaus said. “And we will remain on station to defend and protect our fellow citizens at home and abroad.”
— Thao Nguyen
Trump administration files emergency motion to keep National Guard in DC
The Trump administration filed an emergency motion on Wednesday, requesting a stay of a federal judge’s order to remove the Guard from D.C. The motion is asking for the stay to be issued by Dec. 4.
Last week, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, an appointee of former President Joe Biden , temporarily blocked the administration from deploying troops to enforce the law in the nation’s capital without the mayor's approval. Cobb paused her ruling until Dec. 11 to allow the government to appeal.
— Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY; Reuters
Lone gunman 'ambushed' National Guard: DC police
At an evening news conference at the scene of the shooting, Bowser called the incident a "targeted shooting."
Jeffery Caroll, executive assistant chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said there’s no indication the gunman had assistance from anyone else.
“At this point, we have no other suspects,” he said. “It appears to be a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard and was quickly taken into custody by other National Guard members and law enforcement members.”
Carroll said the suspect was shot during the interaction and transported to a local hospital for treatment.
— Joey Garrison
'Will only stiffen our resolve': Trump to send 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting
FBI director: National Guard troops in 'critical condition'
Patel said Wednesday that the two National Guard troops who were shot just blocks from the White House are in "critical condition."
"Please send your prayers to those brave warriors who are in critical condition and their families," Patel said. "They are here serving our country. They are here protecting everyday Americans and citizens around the world in our nation's capital."
The guardsmen are being treated at a local hospital, said Jeff Carroll, executive assistant chief at the Metropolitan Police Department.
– Rebecca Morin
Witnesses describe chaotic scene: 'I wanted to cry'
Mike Ryan, 55, said he was on his way to buy lunch nearby when he heard what sounded like gunfire. He ran half a block away and heard another round of apparent gunfire, Reuters reported.
When he made his way back to the scene, he saw two National Guard members on the ground across the street, with people trying to resuscitate one of them. At the same time, other National Guard members had pinned someone on the ground, Ryan said, according to Reuters.
Another witness, Stacey Walters, was headed to the dry cleaners when she heard a pair of gunshots, she told The New York Times . Walters, 43, had been riding in an Uber and watched a group of small children being rushed to safety before law enforcement officers approached her vehicle and ordered her Uber driver to turn around.
"I wanted to cry," Walter recounted to the Times. "I’ve never been so close to something like that, let alone at the holidays."
— Charles Ventura, USA TODAY; Reuters
Unclear who shot the National Guard ambush suspect
The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members was subdued by other Guard members in the area, according to D.C. police executive assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll.
“They heard the gunfire, they actually were able to intervene and to kind of hold down the suspect after he had been shot on the ground until law enforcement got there within moments,” Carroll said.
Police are still investigating who shot the suspect, Carroll said. Officials said they do not believe any other suspects were involved in the shooting.
— Zac Anderson
Officials react to shooting: 'We stand united in condemning violence'
Federal, state, and local officials across the country condemned the shooting on Wednesday. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who earlier this year brought the district’s lawsuit over the Guard deployment, said "violence is never the answer and must be swiftly condemned by all."
"The National Guard are volunteers. They sign up to leave their regular jobs and families at a moment’s notice to serve their country," Schwalb said in a statement on social media. "This is a heartbreaking day for DC and our nation. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, friends, and fellow Guardsmen."
House Speaker Mike Johnson called for prayers for the guardsmen, saying the "National Guard has done heroic work this year working around the clock to make our nation’s capital safe again."
"We are forever grateful for the swift actions of law enforcement and for all those who risk their own lives to protect everyone else," Johnson said in a statement on social media.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the chair of the National Governors Association, and the vice-chair, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, offered their prayers to the families of wounded troops.
“We stand united in condemning violence in all forms,” the governor said in a statement. "We urge all Americans to join together in the spirit of peace and unity."
— Thao Nguyen and Bart Jansen
Patel says FBI will lead the investigation
Patel said the FBI will “lead out” on the investigation into the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
Patel said the FBI will work with the D.C. police, Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies on the investigation. “We have assembled the full force of both the federal and state and local law enforcement agencies,” Patel said.
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— Zac Anderson
West Virginia governor cites ‘conflicting reports’ after previously declaring both victims dead
After previously announcing that both National Guard troops were killed, Morrisey cited “conflicting reports” about their condition.
"We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information. Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community," the governor said in a statement.
Morrisey, a Republican, took office in January. Before becoming governor, Morrisey served as the state’s attorney general.
After being elected in 2012, he was West Virginia’s first Republican attorney general to serve the state in almost 80 years – since 1933. Morrisey was the Republican candidate in the 2018 Senate race against then-Sen. Joe Manchin, a centrist Democrat. Manchin defeated Morrisey in that race.
Two National Guard troops who were from West Virginia were shot blocks from the White House on Wednesday. Morrisey said the condition of the troops was unclear after initially declaring them dead in a statement posted on X.
— Joey Garrison and Rebecca Morin
Crime scene in the heart of the capital
Yellow police tape blocked off Washington's Farragut Square, near the scene of the shooting, which took place about two blocks from the White House. The square was decorated with red holiday bows and faux pine garland.
The normally bustling street corner at 17th and I Street NW in Washington, D.C. was emptied in a hurry. A city bus and at least a dozen vehicles were parked inside the security perimeter.
— Francesca Chambers
Trump to deploy 500 more National Guard troops to DC after shooting
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Trump administration is deploying an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following the shooting of two guard members.
"This will only stiffen our resolve to ensure that we make Washington, D.C., safe and beautiful," Hegseth told reporters.
Nearly 2,200 National Guard troops are currently in Washington, D.C., after Trump launched his crime crackdown in the nation’s capital in August.
— Joey Garrison
Judge recently ruled National Guard deployment unlawful
The Trump administration's efforts to deploy the National Guard to enforce order in primarily Democratic-leaning cities has met significant legal resistance.
In addition to the nation's capital, Trump also deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles, Chicago and Portland, Oregon, to aid local authorities in combating protests against immigration enforcement. Governors and mayors in California, Oregon and Illinois are fighting Trump’s deployments in federal court, leading the administration to scale back some missions.
A federal judge on Nov. 20 ruled that the National Guard mission in D.C. was illegal because it supplanted Bowser's authority over law enforcement without her consent.
But U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb paused her ruling until Dec. 11 to allow the administration time to appeal and prepare to end the mission if it is upheld.
— Bart Jansen and Davis Winkie
More than 400 West Virginia troops deployed in DC
West Virginia, the home state of the shot guard members, is one of seven states providing National Guard troops to D.C. for Trump’s crime crackdown.
There were about 420 members of the West Virginia National Guard in D.C. as of Nov. 12, but those numbers have recently fallen to 180. The task force's other 2,100 troops come from D.C., Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana and South Carolina.
— Davis Winkie and Joey Garrison
VP Vance says soldiers are ‘sword and the shield’ of US after shooting
Vice President JD Vance called for prayers for the National Guard troops who were shot just blocks from the White House.
During remarks to U.S. troops at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Vance said that officials do not know the motive and said the troops shot were in “pretty tough condition.”
“It's a somber reminder that soldiers, whether they're active duty, reserve or National Guard, our soldiers are the sword and the shield of the United States of America,” Vance said. “And as a person who goes into work every single day in that building and knows that there are a lot of people who wear the uniform of the United States Army, let me just say very personally, thank them for what they're doing. We're grateful to them.”
— Rebecca Morin
Shooting two blocks from White House
Noem confirmed the shooting in a statement, which took place just before 2:30 p.m. ET at 17th and I Street next to Farragut Square Park, about two blocks from the White House.
"Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington D.C.," Noem said, adding that her department is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.
Contributing: James Powel and Charles Ventura, USA TODAY; Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Guard shooting: US pauses applications from Afghan nationals
