Family of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused in the DC shooting, speaks out [Photo: X]
The family of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national identified as the suspect in the Washington, DC, shooting, has spoken publicly for the first time. Lakanwal allegedly shot and injured two National Guard soldiers near the White House on Wednesday before being shot and detained by authorities. Officials have not yet announced formal charges.
Relatives of the 29-year-old say they are shocked by the incident and claim Lakanwal previously served alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan. A family member told NBC News that Lakanwal spent nearly a decade in the Afghan Army and was stationed in Kandahar during part of his service.
The relative said Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021, after the fall of Kabul, and settled in Washington state. According to the family member, he supported US troops for years and was also injured during his time in the Afghan military.
“We were the ones who were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. I cannot believe that he might do this,” the relative said. They added that Lakanwal grew up in Khost Province and had no known signs of instability that could have hinted at such an attack.
The relative also revealed personal details about Lakanwal’s life. “I don’t know what happened. I need your help to know why this happened,” they said, adding that he was a husband and father of five sons.
The family insists they want to understand what led to the shooting and said they are cooperating with authorities. They described Lakanwal as someone who fled Afghanistan because he feared Taliban reprisals due to his work with the Afghan Army and US forces.
Lakanwal came to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome — the Biden administration programme that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal in 2021. More than 76,000 Afghans arrived under the programme, many of whom had assisted American troops as translators, interpreters, or support personnel.
The programme has faced renewed scrutiny following the shooting. Officials are now reviewing Lakanwal’s background, how he obtained a firearm, and whether any warning signs were missed during vetting.
Reacting to the incident, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blamed the Biden administration for allowing Lakanwal into the country.
“The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration,” she posted on X. “I will not utter this depraved individual’s name. He should be starved of the glory he so desperately wants.”
The shooting has triggered a political debate about the vetting of Afghan evacuees. Some US lawmakers and security analysts say the case highlights gaps in screening procedures. Others warn against generalising the actions of one individual to tens of thousands of Afghans who assisted the US at great personal risk.
Experts say the coming days will be crucial as investigators piece together Lakanwal’s motive and mental state. Officials are also evaluating how this incident could impact future immigration and resettlement policies.
