An Afghan nationwide named Rahmanullah Lakamal has been recognized because the suspected shooter within the ambush assault that wounded two Nationwide Guard troops simply blocks away from the White Home on Wednesday, the Division of Homeland Safety mentioned.
The CIA mentioned Thursday that Lakamal beforehand labored with the U.S. authorities, together with the CIA, as a member of a companion drive in Kandahar that resulted in 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The suspect was shot by one other Guard member and brought into custody, officers mentioned. He’s at present hospitalized.
U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned Thursday that the suspect will probably be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill whereas armed, and he will even be charged with possession of a firearm throughout against the law of violence. The costs might nonetheless change pending the situation of the Guardsmen.
Here is what we all know concerning the suspect to this point. This story will probably be up to date as extra data is confirmed.
Suspect entered U.S. 4 years in the past
Lakamal, 29, entered the US in 2021, a number of legislation enforcement sources informed CBS Information on Wednesday.
Secretary of Homeland Safety Kristi Noem mentioned on X that the suspect was paroled into the U.S. on Sept. 8, 2021, beneath a Biden-era program for Afghan nationals referred to as Operation Allies Welcome.
President Trump described him as “a foreigner who entered our nation from Afghanistan, a hellhole on Earth,” in a video message late Wednesday. He mentioned the suspect’s standing was prolonged “beneath laws signed by President Biden.”
A Division of Homeland Safety official informed CBS Information the suspect was paroled into the U.S. on humanitarian grounds again in 2021. That was the primary authorized mechanism the Biden administration used to welcome tens of hundreds of Afghan evacuees after the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
Lakamal later utilized for asylum with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers in 2024 and his utility was granted in 2025, the DHS official mentioned. However his request for a inexperienced card, which is tied to the asylum grant, is pending.
Most of the Afghan nationals who have been admitted to the U.S. in 2021 have been issued particular immigrant visas supplied to those that labored alongside the navy throughout its 20-year conflict, whereas others got a short-term humanitarian standing generally known as parole.
Greater than 8,000 individuals from Afghanistan have been additionally granted deportation reduction beneath a separate program referred to as short-term protected standing, which Biden prolonged in 2023 however Mr. Trump selected to finish earlier this yr.
Suspect had labored with U.S. forces and CIA in Afghanistan
A CIA spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the suspect labored with the U.S. authorities, together with the CIA, throughout the conflict in Afghanistan.
CBS Information has additionally discovered that the suspect led a staff within the former Afghan nationwide armed forces that labored straight with U.S. and British forces.
In line with a former Afghan commando who spoke with CBS Information on Thursday, Lakamal led a unit of Afghan particular forces within the south of the nation and labored carefully with the worldwide troops.
The previous commando informed CBS Information that Lakanawal was left deeply troubled by the dying of a detailed pal and fellow Afghan commander in 2024, whom he mentioned had unsuccessfully sought asylum within the U.S.
Suspect is not cooperating
The suspect was subdued on the scene of the capturing and brought into custody by Nationwide Guard members and legislation enforcement officers, Jeff Carroll, government assistant chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Division, informed reporters earlier Wednesday.
Presently, he is not cooperating with authorities, legislation enforcement sources mentioned.
Police say suspect was “lone gunman” who “ambushed” Nationwide Guard
Carroll mentioned the suspect seemed to be “a lone gunman that raised the firearm and ambushed these members of the Nationwide Guard” as they patrolled close to a mass transit station in downtown D.C.
The suspect had 4 rounds in his handgun initially, a number of sources accustomed to the investigation informed CBS Information. The primary sufferer — a feminine Guard member — was struck instantly and collapsed the place she stood. She sustained a minimum of two gunshot wounds throughout the ambush, the sources mentioned.
Then, the suspect took her weapon and used it to proceed capturing, placing the second Guard member, in accordance with a number of sources. A 3rd Guard member, who was not injured, in the end returned hearth, ending the assault.
The 2 victims — Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Pfc. Andrew Wolfe, 24 — stay in important situation after present process surgical procedure, U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned Thursday.
The Guard members have been on “excessive visibility patrols,” Carroll mentioned, a part of a monthslong deployment of Nationwide Guard troops from D.C. and a number of other states ordered by President Trump.
Suspect drove from Washington state
Pirro mentioned Thursday morning that suspect drove to D.C. from Bellingham, in Washington state, with “the supposed goal of coming to our nation’s capital.” She mentioned the suspect lived together with his spouse and, officers consider, 5 kids.
Patel mentioned a search warrant had been executed on the suspect’s final recognized tackle in Washington state. Based mostly on what was discovered on the tackle, legislation enforcement was capable of finding individuals related to him in San Diego.
“Throughout that course of, we seized quite a few digital units to incorporate cellphones, laptops, iPads and different materials that’s being analyzed as we converse,” Patel mentioned. “… Interviews have been performed and are going to be proceed to be performed, and we’ll go anyplace within the nation or the world the place the proof leads us.”
