The Brazen Daywortime shooting of two members of the National Guard on Mount Sizwe by local authorities means that the Afghan national has raised many questions.
That includes the condition of the injured forces and details about the suspect and his motive for the attack the day before Thanksgiving.
Here’s what we know so far, and what we don’t:
Status of National Guard members
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the two security guards were hospitalized in critical condition.
They are members of the West Virginia National Guard, which had sent hundreds of troops to the nation’s capital as part of President Donald Trump’s anti-crime crackdown that included taking over the local police department.
There were approximately 2,200 members guarding the DC mission.
The names and details of the two injured soldiers are not known so far.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey was initially sent to social media who was killed by two security guards. He later left at the time, saying his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition. Morrisey didn’t finish.
Bowser called the attack “Aimed shooting.”
Jeffery Carroll, assistant DC Police Chief, said video reviewed by investigators showed the attacker “coming around the corner” and immediately began shooting at the troopers. The suspect opened fire in retaliation, according to a law enforcement official.
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At least one security guard exchanged gunfire with the shooter, one official said. Both were not authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Troopers rushed to finish off the shooter, Carroll said, and he was arrested. Authorities believe he was the only gunman.
Carroll said it was not clear whether one of the Guard members or a law enforcement officer shot the suspect and that investigators so far had no information on a motive.
The suspect’s wounds were not believed to be life-threatening, said one of the officials.
The suspect and his way to the US
The suspect is believed to be a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the US in September 2021 and has been living in Washington State, two law enforcement officials and a person familiar with the matter told related media.
He came to the US through Operation Allies Welcome, a bid management program that has fled and repatriated tens of thousands of Afghans after the end of the conflict in the country, officials said.
Law enforcement identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwalwal, but authorities were still working to fully verify his background, they said. The people could not discuss the details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to the decorator on condition of anonymity.
Lakamal came to Bellingham, Washington, about four years ago with his wife and five children, according to HIS REPRESENTATIVE KRISTINN.
They were among about 800 Afghan refugees who settled in Washington State under the US government’s subsidized program. Among those partnering with government agencies to sponsor Afghanis families was World Relief, a faith-based group that helps refugees with housing, language training and language classes as they live in the Seattle area.
It is not clear how Lakanwal could have traveled to the national capital, which is 4,000 kilometers away).
National Guard Forces
Shortly after the shooting, Trump said he would send 500 U.S. troops to Washington, D.C. It is unclear where the additional troops could come from.
As of early November, the DC National Guard had the largest number on the ground with 949
A federal judge last week placed the administration on probation but also set his order for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to remove the troops or appeal.
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