Washington DC Shooting: Former US Military Collaborator Identified as Gunman
A brutal shooting in Washington DC has left two National Guard members critically injured, with the investigation now treating it as a potential act of terrorism. The incident has taken a controversial turn after right-wing commentator Nick Fuentes presented his own analysis of the attacker's background.
Fuentes' Claims: From "Taliban Fanatic" to US "Mercenary"
Nick Fuentes used his online stream to challenge the initial narrative, asserting that the suspect, 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was not a hidden "Taliban fanatic." Instead, Fuentes claimed, Lakanwal was a longtime collaborator with the United States military. "These are not afghans that were with the Taliban, these are afghans that were working with the United States Military," Fuentes stated. He alleged that many Afghans evacuated during the 2021 withdrawal under Operation Allies Welcome were not ordinary refugees but individuals who had worked directly with American forces. Fuentes insisted they arrived not as refugees but as US military "mercenaries," evacuated because their cooperation made them targets after the Taliban regained control.
The Attack and the Attacker's Background
The violent episode unfolded near the Farragut West Metro Station. Authorities report that Lakanwal was lying in wait before opening fire on two Guardsmen who were on a routine patrol. In a harrowing sequence of events, one female guard was shot in the chest and then the head. A second guard was also struck by gunfire. The attack was ultimately stopped when a third soldier intervened. Lakanwal was shot four times during the confrontation and was seen in videos from the scene being taken away nearly naked in an ambulance.
Further details about the suspect have emerged. Family members confirmed to NBC News that Lakanwal had served in the Afghan Army in Kandahar and had worked closely with US Special Forces. He was reportedly injured in battle prior to his evacuation to America. Federal sources cited by the New York Post revealed that Lakanwal entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome but his Special Immigrant Visa expired in September. He was living in Bellingham, Washington, an area that received a number of Afghan evacuees. As the investigation continues, the FBI is probing a possible terrorism motive, though police have not yet announced an official reason for the attack.
