A 29-year-old Afghan, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was granted entry into the United States under a 2021 resettlement initiative for former Afghan allies, is now accused of carrying out a deadly attack near the White House.
According to federal and intelligence officials, Lakanwal had previously served with a U.S.-backed paramilitary unit in Afghanistan, and was part of the group resettled under Operation Allies Welcome. Despite what agencies described as vetting at the time, investigators now say he allegedly targeted and ambushed two members of West Virginia National Guard — killing one and critically wounding the other.
Authorities say the suspect drove across the country from his home state in Washington before the shooting, which involved a .357-caliber revolver. Lakanwal was apprehended and taken into custody after being wounded in a gunfight with guardsmen.
In response to the fatal attack, the current administration has paused Afghan immigration and ordered a full review of all asylum and parole cases processed under the prior resettlement program. Federal prosecutors have also filed first-degree murder and multiple weapons charges against Lakanwal.
The incident has triggered a heated national debate over the security and screening protocols of refugee resettlement programs and whether current vetting procedures are sufficient to protect public safety.