Two West Virginia National Guard members remain in critical condition after an ambush-style shooting just blocks from the White House, prompting a terrorism probe and heightened security across the capital.

The attack occurred around 2:45 p.m. near Farragut North Metro station, where Sgt. Elias Ramirez and Spc. Jordan Hayes, both 28, were patrolling as part of a domestic deployment. Metropolitan Police officials described the incident as targeted: the suspect rounded a corner and opened fire at point-blank range, striking one guardsman in the head and the other in the torso. Fellow soldiers returned fire, wounding the assailant, while a third unarmed guardsman subdued him with a pocket knife.

The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was taken into custody. Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome after the Afghanistan withdrawal and received asylum earlier this year. His humanitarian parole expired in September, leaving him undocumented at the time of the shooting. A former member of the Afghan National Army Commando Corps who worked with U.S. Special Forces, he was hospitalized in stable condition before transfer to custody. Authorities recovered a 9mm handgun believed to have been used in the attack. Investigators say he has not cooperated, though his phone contained searches related to troop deployments.

President Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago, condemned the assault as “an act of evil, hatred, and terror,” ordering 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington and directing U.S. immigration authorities to pause Afghan refugee and asylum processing pending review. Vice President JD Vance called for prayers, while West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey clarified that the soldiers remain alive after initially reporting their deaths.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a “targeted attack” in a heavily populated area. Streets were locked down, the White House briefly secured, and flights at Reagan National Airport paused. The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is leading a joint task force with the Metropolitan Police, Secret Service, and Pentagon, classifying the case as potential domestic terrorism or a hate crime against the military.

Political leaders across party lines expressed outrage and support. Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged prayers, former President Barack Obama condemned the violence, and Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia called the incident “absolutely heartbreaking.” Advocacy groups warned against stigmatizing Afghan evacuees, noting Lakanwal’s past alliances with U.S. forces.

As Thanksgiving approaches, families await updates on the wounded soldiers while investigators probe Lakanwal’s background for signs of radicalization.