Suspect in Custody Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, Afghan asylum seeker granted status in April 2025

• Shot in the leg by one of the Guardsmen during return fire
• Currently in stable condition under heavy guard at Howard University Hospital
• Facing federal charges: attempted murder of a federal officer, terrorism-related counts expected

Live Timeline – What We Know Right Now

• 14:45 EST Wednesday – Guardsmen on routine foot patrol near Farragut West Metro
• 14:47 – Lakanwal approaches from 18th St NW, raises 9mm handgun, opens fire without warning
• Female soldier (24) shot multiple times in torso – immediate cardiac arrest on scene
• Male soldier (28) returns fire, hits suspect in leg, then collapses from gunshot wounds
• 14:52 – Suspect tackled inside Metro station after 4-block foot chase
• 15:10 – Both Guardsmen airlifted to GW University Hospital – emergency surgery ongoing
• 05:40 EST today – Doctors confirm both soldiers “critical but alive” after 14-hour operations

Weapons & Evidence Recovered

• 9mm Glock with 4 rounds remaining
• Phone containing anti-American manifesto and videos praising Taliban
• GoPro-style camera mounted on chest (recording at time of attack)

Political Firestorm – Real-Time Reactions

Trump (Truth Social, 05:58 EST): “Another illegal migrant terrorist attacks our brave troops on American soil! Biden’s open borders disaster. I am sending 1,000 more National Guard to DC TODAY.”

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (live presser): “These are our kids. They volunteered to keep Washington safe. We are praying like never before.”

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser: “This is a dark day for our city. We stand with the soldiers and their families.”

Security Fallout (Last 3 Hours)

• White House perimeter extended two blocks
• All Metro stations within 1 mile on heightened alert
• Thanksgiving tree-lighting ceremony tonight moved indoors
• National Guard deployment in DC increased from 2,375 → 3,375 effective immediately

Victim Identities (released by Pentagon 06:00 EST)

• Specialist Emily Thompson, 24, Charleston, WV
• Sergeant Marcus Hale, 28, Morgantown, WV Both deployed to Middle East 2023–2024

X Trends – United States (Right Now)

1. #DCTroopsShot – 2.1 M posts
2. “Afghan asylum shooter” – 1.4 M
3. #PrayForOurGuard – 987k
4. “Trump sending 1000 more” – 612k

Bottom Line

Two American soldiers who survived combat tours in the Middle East were nearly killed yesterday doing crowd-control duty on the streets of their own capital.

The female soldier flat-lined twice on the operating table. The male soldier saved civilian lives by returning fire while bleeding out.

Thanksgiving morning in America begins with two families at a hospital bedside and a nation asking how this happened on the doorstep of the White House.

Updates as they come.

Date: 27th Nov, 2025

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