DC shooter confirmed as former CIA asset in Afghanistan

WISE NEWS PRESS / WASHINGTON, USA — Nov. 27, 2025

The suspect in custody for the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington D.C. was an Afghan national who had been granted entry to the United States due to his prior work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), officials have confirmed. The revelation has prompted an immediate suspension of Afghan immigration applications.

The incident, which took place just blocks from the White House, left Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, in critical condition in the intensive care unit following surgery. Police have confirmed the suspect was neutralized and taken into custody.

'Prior work with the government'

CIA Director John Ratcliffe disclosed that the suspect, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Ratcliffe stated that the suspect was permitted entry into the U.S. specifically because of his "work with the American government, including the CIA, as a member of a joint force in Kandahar."

Ratcliffe noted that this collaboration ended shortly after the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan in 2021. The Department of Homeland Security described Lakanwal as a "criminal immigrant from Afghanistan," a term often used to describe those who may have violated immigration terms.

Immediate political fallout

In response to the attack, President Donald Trump, speaking from Florida, condemned the shooting as an act of "evil, hatred, and terror," promising that the perpetrator would pay "the ultimate price." Consequently, the administration has announced an indefinite halt on all immigration applications from Afghan nationals to review security screening protocols.

"We must re-vet every foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan during the Biden era," Trump stated on the night of Nov. 26.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guard troops are being deployed to Washington D.C. to reinforce security. "If criminals want to engage in these types of acts... we will never back down," Hegseth told reporters.

Suspect’s background

District Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the suspect entered the U.S. in September 2021. Before traveling to Washington D.C. to carry out the attack, Lakanwal is believed to have been residing in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children.

While the motive remains under investigation by the FBI, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized that this appeared to be a "targeted attack." The incident has reignited intense debate regarding vetting procedures for foreign nationals who assisted U.S. forces abroad.

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