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Rahmanullah Lakanwal: Alleged photo, immigration records of DC shooting suspect surface
CBS News identified the shooting suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021, with his alleged photo circulating.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was identified as the suspect in the shooting, CBS News reported, citing multiple law enforcement sources. Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021, the report noted. His alleged photo also surfaced on social media.
Fox 13 reported that Lakhanwal entered the United States in September 2021 and had been living in Washington state before the shooting on Wednesday. Investigators are still working to determine Lakhanwal's background.
Reports say that Lakhan was critically injured in the shooting. He reportedly approached one of the National Guardsmen and shot him from feet away. The other guardsman, who had tried to take shelter behind a nearby bus stop, was also allegedly shot by Lakhanwal. Both guardsmen were hit in the head and are currently in critical condition.
His alleged photo after the shooting surfaced on social media. Here's the photo:
Fox Digital News published more details about the background of Ramanullah Lakhanwal and the motive behind the deadly shooting on Wednesday. According to the Fox report, Lakhanwal was granted a US visa under the Operation Allies Welcome - a Biden administration initiative launched in 2021 to support the relocation, resettlement, and integration of Afghan evacuees following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Also read: Rahmanullah Lakanwal: DC National Guard shooting suspect's alleged social media account emerges
What We Know About The Suspect's Motive
As of now, investigators have not revealed the motive behind the shooting, and it remains under investigation. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser described the shooting as a "targeted act" which the shooter intentionally ambushing the National Guardsmen.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel said at a presser after the shooting that the FBI is now investigating the shooting as a possible act of national terrorism.
The White House, which is just couple of blocks away from the location of the shooting, was briefly placed on lockdown. President Trump was at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida residence, at the time of the shooting.
