Washington DC Shooting: Kristi Noem says suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal radicalized in US, family under scrutiny

U.S. authorities say Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was radicalized while living in the U.S. before fatally shooting a member of the National Guard and wounding another in Washington, DC. Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem said the suspect’s radicalization involved connections in his home community. This undated image obtained on Nov. 28, 2025, courtesy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, shows Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who is the suspect in the shooting of two members of the National Guard in Washington, DC. (Photo by Handout / US Attorney’s Office / AFP) (AFP) US authorities believe the man suspected of fatally shooting a member of the National Guard and wounding another in Washington, DC, was radicalized while living in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. Kristi Noem spoke to NBC and said investigators are still gathering information about the suspect’s motive. “But I will say we believe he has been radicalized since he has been here in this country,” she said. “We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him, who were his family members. So far we’ve had some participation.” Suspect identified as Afghan national Federal authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who worked with US forces and the CIA in Afghanistan before arriving in the US in 2021. He was subdued and arrested shortly after the shooting, which took place a few blocks from the White House. Political Fallout and Immigration Debate President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials criticized the Biden administration for letting Lakanwal into the country. They pushed for tougher immigration measures, including stopping reviews of Afghan immigration cases and ordering a review of those already in the US. Cross-country attack and investigation Authorities say Lakanwal drove from Washington state, where he lived with his wife and children, to the nation’s capital. Searches were also conducted in California. The DC shooting is being treated as a terrorist case, although the motive has not been publicly confirmed. Victims of the attack Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot. US Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her injuries on Thursday. Air Force Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in hospital. Lakanwal was granted asylum after Trump returned to the White House in January, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization. Trump steps up anti-immigration rhetoric Trump said he would permanently halt migration from “all Third World countries,” end what he called “illegal admissions” under Biden and end federal benefits for non-citizens. He also promised to deport foreign nationals deemed security risks.