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.

Updated on: Nov 27, 2025, 07:53:54 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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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.

Law enforcement officers secure the scene of a shooting in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday. (Bloomberg)

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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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