The grim message behind deadly shootout at Washington

In the United States, where liberal gun purchase regulations have made mass shootings tragically common, another shootout is rarely headline news. But the latest attack in Washington, DC, assumes far greater significance because of where it occurred and who was targeted.

The Location

The shootout on Wednesday sent shivers down the spine not because of its casualties, but because it happened in one of the most fortified areas on the planet—just blocks away from the White House, the seat of the president of the world’s most powerful country. It is a chilling reminder that no place is safe from terrorist attacks.

The Target

Unlike typical US gun attacks that often target civilians, this assault was different. It was a targeted attack on members of the National Guard, a unique branch of the US military with both state and federal responsibilities. National Guard members are elite forces who respond to domestic crises and overseas conflicts.

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Consequences

The attack, which occurred just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, fatally injured two National Guard members. Both were from West Virginia and were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown Washington—just a few blocks from the White House. One victim succumbed to his injuries, while the other remains in critical condition.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect “came around the corner” and “immediately started firing”, adding that the soldiers had been “ambushed”. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed it was a targeted attack.

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The Suspect

The Department of Homeland Security identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan immigrant, as the suspect, calling him “a criminal alien from Afghanistan”. He was injured during apprehension. Lakanwal lived in Washington state with his wife and five children and reportedly entered the US in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program under which an estimated 77,000 Afghans arrived following the US withdrawal.

Ally Turned Foe

It appears to be a case of an ally turned foe. Reports suggest that in Afghanistan, Lakanwal was closely aligned with US forces. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect had a relationship with US forces, while CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated he worked with the intelligence agency. Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was pending.

The Reaction

In light of the suspect’s Afghan background, President Donald Trump said the US “must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden”. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin announced that all immigration requests from Afghan nationals are halted indefinitely pending a security review. She added that the Trump administration is also reviewing all asylum cases approved under Biden.

Immigration Clampdown

The Washington shooting has triggered immediate, far-reaching consequences:

Green Card Re-examination:

USCIS Director Joe Edlow has ordered a full, rigorous re-examination of every green card issued to aliens from all “countries of concern”, which include Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Haiti, Sudan, Cuba, and others.

Permanent Pause on Immigration:

In a major development, President Trump announced that the US will permanently stop immigration from countries defined as “third world”, claiming it is necessary to “allow the American system to recover”.

Question Mark

The shooting and Trump’s swift response raise serious questions about the future of Afghans in the US. More than 190,000 Afghans have settled in America since August 2021. The Alliance of Afghan Communities condemned the attack and warned that one individual’s crime must not jeopardise thousands of legitimate immigration cases.

An Act of Terror

In an address, President Trump called the shooting “an act of evil, hatred, and terror”, blaming the Biden administration for bringing the suspect into the country. He claimed the attack underscores a major national security threat and repeated that “20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners” entered the US under Biden.

The Investigation

The FBI is treating the case with utmost seriousness, including investigating it as a potential act of terror. After confirmation of one victim’s death, the probe expanded. Agents searched multiple properties linked to Lakanwal, seizing electronic devices and interviewing relatives.

Whether the attack was an act of terror, an individual’s reckless act, or part of a larger plot remains to be seen. But one fact stands out: a shooting mere blocks from the White House—one of the most secure locations on Earth—must unite the world in fighting all forms of terrorism.

In Defence of the National Guard

The National Guard consists of state-based troops who respond to natural disasters, protests, and emergencies. While they can be deployed abroad, they have limited domestic law enforcement authority due to the Posse Comitatus Act.

Fraught

Trump’s moves to use the military on US soil remain deeply contentious. He recently deployed thousands of Guard members in major cities and vowed to add 500 more in Washington after the shooting.

Wake-Up Call

The immediate victims were Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who died, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remains critical. But the deeper casualty is the peace and stability of the US and the world. The attack reinforces a grim message: “There is no place in the world free from terrorism.”

It also serves as a wake-up call for Washington to tighten gun laws, as mass shootings have become so frequent that the time between them is measured in days—or hours. It is time for action.

(The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.)