Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House, had worked with multiple U.S. government entities, including the CIA, during his time as part of a partner force in Afghanistan, according to information provided to Fox News Digital.
Lakanwal, 29, arrived in the United States in September 2021, one month after the Afghanistan withdrawal conducted under the Biden-Harris administration.
He entered the country through “Operation Allies Welcome,” the program created to bring Afghan nationals to the U.S. following the evacuation.
🚨 BREAKING: Afghan National Guard shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal is an ILLEGAL migrant let in under Biden and Mayorkas' "Operation Allies Welcome," per Fox
He was allowed to come with a "visa" - then he overstayed it.SHUT IT ALL OFF! Send in the military to deport thousands… pic.twitter.com/m6eoxwkE0y— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 27, 2025
Intelligence sources told Fox News Digital that Lakanwal had a prior working relationship with various U.S. agencies due to his role with a partner force in Kandahar.
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe told Fox News Digital that the administration cited that prior work as justification for permitting him to enter the country in 2021.
“In the wake of the disastrous Biden withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation,” Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe also stated: “The individual—and so many others—should have never been allowed to come here. Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to endure the ongoing fallout from the Biden administration’s catastrophic failures.”
He added: “God bless our brave troops.”
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Fox News Digital learned that the FBI has taken the lead on the investigation into the shooting. Multiple senior intelligence officials told the outlet that the incident is being treated as a possible act of international terrorism.
FBI officials confirmed that the two Guardsmen remain in critical condition.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation online late Wednesday.
He called the shooting a “savage attack” and described how one of the Guardsmen “was shot at point-blank range in a monstrous ambush-style attack just steps away from the White House.”
Trump said the “heinous assault” was “an act of evil and act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity.”
Trump also said: “The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families. The love of our entire country is pouring out for them, and we are lifting them up in our prayers as we are filled with anguish and grief for those who were shot, we're also filled with righteous anger and ferocious resolve. As President of the United States, I am determined to ensure that the animal who perpetrated this atrocity pays the steepest possible price.”
“The hearts of all Americans tonight are with those two members of the West Virginia National Guard and their families…
We will make America totally safe again, and we will bring the perpetrator of this barbaric attack to swift and certain justice.” — President Trump pic.twitter.com/zOkJGZyGmk— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 27, 2025
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said during a Wednesday news conference that the attack was aimed specifically at the Guardsmen.
“This is a targeted shooting,” Bowser said.
“One individual who appeared to target these guardsmen. That individual has been taken into custody.”
🚨 JUST IN: Even the DEMOCRAT mayor of DC, Muriel Bowser, just admitted this was a TARGETED ATTACK on National Guard troopsTraitors like the Seditious Six should be held accountable.THEIR LIES continue to cause this. Over and over. pic.twitter.com/CshtDMwOjN
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 26, 2025
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Deport all jihadists. Your life my depend on it.
It’s building to that end.
Return all Islamists to their native countries.
Return all illegal border crossers to the native countries.
Return VISA over-stayers to their native countries.
Halt ALL other worker visa programs for the balance of this election cycle.
Focus on legal USA citizens and their desire to live the American Dream.
God Bless the USA 🇺🇸
This is a televised act of terrorism. He is not a citizen, he has no rights, guilty by action.
Terrorists should be immediately taken to Guantanamo Bay Navel Facility, Gitmo, never to be seen again. No quarter.
This was a televised happening, no question of who, did what, when, where or how.
Prevention can only be accomplished by exhibiting punishment. In the early years of the republic public execution was the method of prevention People came, brought their kids, to the hanging just to let them know what happens when you stray form societal rules and regulations.
These are not animals, they are radicalized attack dogs trained by Islamic jihadists. These individuals have no qualms regarding killing the infidel. “Infidel, anyone not holding with their faith”.
Naval – “navel” is on your stomach.
No, it’s on Oranges!
Alleged my ASS. This was a televised act of terrorism.
Illegals and especially illegal terriorists have no rights in this country.
Terrorists should be immediately moved immediately to a military facility for expedited transfer to Gitmo, Guantanamo Bay Navel Facility, Cuba, never to be seen again.
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You can’t vett foreign nationals on the fly when you don’t have access to that foreign government’s records. Period. Full stop.
Sounds to me like the CIA armed and hired, themselves another “expendable patsy”, they more than likely provided transportation to D.C., in order to keep the “agenda” against TRUMP going.
them 6 need to be locked up like he is
Allegedly??? Do they know the definition of this word? How many news outlets misuse this word is mund boggling to me.
Definition: ” used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof. ”
The guy was shot whilst in the act… Are you brain dead… Stop opening avenues for potential deniability for perpetrators that have been ” caught red handed “. It’s embarrassing for the people of your nation, as it insinuates they’re to stupid to put one and one together.
The CIA needs to be cleared out and all the infidels in this country should be sent back to where their behavior is accepted
Them there “infidels” Polly, are “Jihadis” and almost certainly radical islamists. I most surely agree with your sentiments though !
CIA Criminals In Action!