The United States President Trump has vowed full wrath of the law on a 29-year-old Afghan immigrant who shot two West Virginia Guardsmen on Wednesday afternoon at 17th and I streets NW in Washington, D.C., as the guardsmen conducted high-visibility patrols amid recent deployments for public order.
President Trump in a statement had vowed: “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price.
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” he condoled with the victims’ family.
The Afghan shooter born in 1996, armed with a revolver ambushed a female guardsman, shooting her in the head, and a male guardsman, shot multiple times
Authorities identified him as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 after serving with U.S. Special Forces.
A Major in the National Guard who happened to be an eyewitness and unarmed during the shooting, accounted that he was doing spot checks when he heard the shooting and turned to see the shooter who spotted him. He took cover behind a truck.
According to the Major, the suspect came for him and he had to pull out his pocket knife, and bravely took on the suspect who was reloading his revolver, stabbed him multiple times in the head.
Another guardsman in the area who was armed, drew his pistol and shot the suspect twice, once in the leg and once in the buttocks.
The Major stated that when the suspect began shooting he heard him shout, Allahu akbar!”
The FBI probes it as possible terrorism, though the motive is unclear; leaders including Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama offered prayers and condemned the violence while supporting the victims’ families.
Joe Biden wrote on X: “Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families.”
Barack Obama: “Violence has no place in America. Michelle and I are praying for the service members shot in Washington, DC today, and send our love to their families as they enter this holiday season under the most tragic of circumstances.”
