Early Wednesday afternoon, in one of the busiest areas of downtown Washington, D.C., the name Rahmanullah Lakanwal began circulating among police radios and federal offices. Until then, his presence in the United States had gone largely unnoticed. He had arrived in 2021 as part of the contingent of Afghans evacuated after Washington's military withdrawal from their country. This process, according to the State Department, allowed for the resettlement of more than 190,000 people under emergency programs. For U.S. authorities, Lakanwal was no different from many others seeking protection after the Taliban's return to power.
A native of Kandahar, 29-year-old Lakanwal had worked for a US government-affiliated force in Afghanistan. Fox News reported that this collaboration included tasks linked to the CIA. Former CIA director John Ratcliffe stated that the Joe Biden administration authorized his entry into the United States “because of his prior work with the US government, including the CIA.” According to Ratcliffe, that relationship ended shortly after the evacuation.
On September 8, 2021, Lakanwal entered the country under Operation Welcome Allies, the program that expedited the arrival of Afghans involved in supporting U.S. forces. Most of them received a two-year temporary permit. The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 40% of those admitted were eligible for Special Immigrant Visas for their involvement in military operations. Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted protection in 2025, according to officials cited by CNN.
His journey through immigration facilities included waiting periods, document reviews, and pending paperwork—a common process for those who entered under the evacuation program. Upon the expiration of his initial permit, he found himself in an irregular status, a situation that affected a portion of the Afghan contingent. At that time, there was no publicly available information about his employment or support networks in the United States. Nor were there any relevant criminal records available.
The sequence of events leading to the shooting under investigation by authorities began Wednesday around 2:15 p.m. near the Farragut West subway station. Two National Guard members were seriously injured when a man opened fire in an area frequented by federal offices, tourists, and security personnel. Mayor Muriel Bowser described it as a “targeted shooting,” without providing details about a possible motive. Law enforcement apprehended Lakanwal after an exchange of gunfire in which he was also wounded. He was taken to a hospital under police custody.
The incident generated immediate reactions. President Donald Trump called it an “act of terrorism” and called for a review of the status of all Afghans who entered the country during the Biden administration. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the reinforcement of military personnel in the capital. Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that there was still no confirmed hypothesis regarding the motive for the attack.
The investigation is now focused on reconstructing Lakanwal's recent movements, his immigration status, his connections in the United States, and his history in Afghanistan. Federal agencies have not reported any possible signs of radicalization, mental health issues, or financial hardship that might explain the transition between his arrival as an evacuee and Wednesday's shooting. A detailed timeline of his activities in the preceding days has also not been released.
Investigators are reviewing communications, employment records, contacts, and any other evidence that might help determine whether he acted alone and what circumstances preceded the attack. The case unfolds while the two National Guard members remain in critical condition.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, whose name was associated with operations supporting US forces in Afghanistan, now faces criminal proceedings in a climate charged with political and immigration debate. His story, until recently confined to administrative records and asylum documents, has become the focus of a federal investigation seeking to determine the origin of an attack that occurred just meters from the White House.
