First National Guard shooting victim named as Trump condemns ‘act of terror’ in Washington DC – live updates

Joe Biden ‘heartbroken’ by latest gun violence episode

The 44th president, whom Trump has blamed for the shooting and who is currently recovering from cancer treatment, has expressed his sorrow over yesterday’s events.

Here’s some more reaction from Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, House Speaker Mike Johnson and California Democrats Gavin Newsom and Ro Khanna.

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 13:20

How the National Guard has reacted

This is the statement put out by the District of Columbia National Guard in response to the gun attack on two of their own yesterday:

General Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, subsequently said in a video posted to X that he and his senior enlisted advisor, John Raines, will travel from Guantanamo Bay to Washington, D.C., today to be with their fellow guardsmen.

“The chief and I were planning to spend Thanksgiving with our Guard and joint force troops here in Guantanamo Bay, but we’re returning to Washington, D.C., to be with our guardsmen there who continue to protect the capital city,” Raines said.

Nordhaus added: “We are devastated by this senseless act of violence, and we will remain on station to defend and protect our fellow citizens at home and abroad.”

What is Operation Allies Welcome? The refugee scheme that allowed DC suspect into the US

Here’s Harry Cockburn with a closer look at the Biden-era resettlement program introduced to support Afghan nationals who had assisted the American military during the War on Terror under which Rahmanullah Lakanwal first entered the United States.

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 12:40

Afghan advocacy group condemns shooting in DC

Advocacy group AfghanEvac has condemned the attack in Washington D.C. but warned that the incident should not be used to “isolate or harm” Afghans who have resettled in the U.S.

“We reject and condemn anyone who uses, or seeks to use, violence, and we stand with every American who is horrified and saddened by this crime,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of the San Diego-based group.

In a statement shared online he said that the perpetrator should face “full accountability and prosecution under the law” and that “this individual’s isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community.”

“Those who would twist this moment to attack Afghan families aren’t seeking safety or justice – they’re exploiting division and endangering all of us,” he said.

VanDiver added Afghan immigrants and wartime allies who resettle in the U.S. undergo extensive security vetting.

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 12:20

Shooter took weapon from one of two fallen National Guards before being shot down by third

A few more details on precisely what happened at the Metro station here from CBS News’s Jennifer Jacobs, who reports that the attacker discharged all four shots from his own gun at the two Guards before taking one of the downed officer’s weapons and continuing firing, until he was taken out by a third Guard.

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 12:00

Watch: Pete Hegseth says 500 more National Guardsmen will be ordered to DC

This is what the secretary of war had to say in response to yesterday’s attack.

Pete Hegseth responds to shooting by confirming 500 more National Guardsmen will be ordered to DC

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 11:40

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 11:20

Who is suspected shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal?

The Department of Homeland Security has taken an Afghan national into custody over yesterday’s shooting, with the suspect since identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old who has been living in Washington state since 2021 and had no known criminal history prior to yesterday’s incident.

He is understood to have entered the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program to resettle thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan and feared reprisals from Taliban forces once they retook control of their homeland after the American withdrawal four years ago.

However, as we saw earlier, CNN is reporting that Lakanwal submitted a new asylum application in December 2024 that was granted by the Trump administration in April this year.

NBC News has meanwhile reported that he served in the Afghan army for 10 years, served alongside U.S. Special Forces and was stationed in Kandahar for part of that time.

The shooter appears to have acted alone, officials have said, and the FBI’s joint terrorism task force is currently investigating what drove him to open fire in what officials called an “ambush” attack on Thanksgiving eve.

Here’s Rachel Dobkin and Alex Croft with everything we know about Wednesday’s events.

Joe Sommerlad27 November 2025 11:00

West Virginia Governor provides update on victims’ condition

Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially announced on X yesterday that the two Guardsmen shot in D.C. had died of their injuries, before subsequently issuing a follow-up post saying he had received “conflicting reports” about their wellbeing.

This is the last we heard from him, speaking to Charlie Hurt on Fox News.

Homeland Security Secretary lashes out at ‘depraved’ shooter

Here’s some more official reaction to Wednesday’s attack from Kristi Noem, FBI Director Kash Patel, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and others.