Washington shooter was CIA operative in Afghanistan
Suspect in Wednesday’s shooting near the White House, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, previously worked with the CIA
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – The suspect in Wednesday’s shooting near the White House, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, previously worked with the CIA and other U.S. government units in Afghanistan, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Thursday.
Before entering the US in 2021, Lakanwal had been part of a “partner force in Kandahar,” Ratcliffe said. He did not specify the nature of Lakanwal’s duties but noted the relationship ended soon after the chaotic US withdrawal that year.
Kandahar, long a Taliban stronghold, saw years of intense fighting after the 2001 US-led invasion. The CIA has historically relied on Afghan partners for translation, intelligence, and paramilitary operations.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said the two National Guard members shot in the attack remained hospitalized in critical condition. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who initially said one guard member had died, later walked back the claim, citing “conflicting reports.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi declined to comment on their condition but said charges would depend on their “prognosis,” adding: “We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster.”
The shooting — a rare attack on National Guard members on US soil — occurred a day before Thanksgiving and comes amid broader political debate over the Trump administration’s use of the military for domestic security.
Authorities said the suspect was also shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Lakanwal, 29, arrived through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era resettlement program for Afghans at risk after the US withdrawal. Around 76,000 Afghans were evacuated and resettled under the program, which has faced scrutiny from Trump and Republican lawmakers over vetting procedures.
Lakanwal settled in Washington state with his wife and five children, according to his former landlord, Kristina Widman.
In a video statement after the shooting, President Trump called for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under the Biden administration. “If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” he said, calling the attack “a crime against our entire nation.”
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