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Rahmanullah Lakanwal: DC shooter's family breaks silence; ‘cannot believe’

Rahmanullah Lakanwal was identified as the DC shooter who injured two National Guard troops near the White House on Wednesday

Updated on: Nov 27, 2025 09:58 am IST
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Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the DC shooter who injured two National Guard troops near the White House on Wednesday, served alongside US Special Forces troops in Afghanistan, his relatives revealed. The 29-year-old was shot and detained at the scene. Officials are yet to announce formal charges.

Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), left, and Muriel Bowser, mayor of the District of Columbia, during a news conference(Bloomberg)

A relative said Lakanwal arrived in the US in September 2021. He served in the Afghan Army for 10 years, the family member said, according to NBC News. He was stationed at a base in Kandahar for part of that time.

After the Taliban took over Kabul, Lakanwal moved to the US and settled in Washington state. The relative, as per the report, added that the 29-year-old Afghan national supported US troops and was also injured during his time in the army.

Read More: National Guard shooting: 5 things to know about DC suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal

“We were the ones who were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. I cannot believe it that he might do this,” the relative told the publication, further stating that Lakanwal grew up in Khost Province.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj

Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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