D.C. National Guard Shooting: What Actually Happened & Why It Matters Today
As we gather with family, cook our food, and argue about the usual holiday topics, it’s easy to forget that there are people in uniform who don’t get the day off — people who stand between us and danger every single hour of the year.
Yesterday, that reality hit hard.
What Happened in Washington, D.C.
On November 26, 2025, just blocks from the White House, two National Guard soldiers from the West Virginia Guard were ambushed in a targeted shooting near Farragut West. According to official reports:
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A gunman approached the soldiers from around a corner.
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He opened fire at close range.
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Both soldiers were critically wounded.
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Other Guard members returned fire, striking the suspect.
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The suspect survived and was taken into custody.
Federal authorities are calling the attack targeted and treating it as a possible terrorism-related incident pending further investigation.
The FBI took over the lead immediately.
Who Is the Suspect?
The suspect has been publicly identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. after the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation. His immigration record, asylum claim, and vetting process are now under federal review, and the government has already paused Afghan-related immigration processing while they re-evaluate the system.
Officials also stated that the suspect has not cooperated with investigators so far.
Why This Hit So Hard
Attacks like this aren’t abstract.
They aren’t overseas.
They aren’t “political talking points.”
This happened in our capital, in broad daylight, to soldiers who were standing guard to protect the public during the holiday travel surge.
Whatever your politics are — immigration, border security, military deployment, asylum vetting, or anything else — this incident cuts through the noise:
There are Americans in uniform getting shot at while the rest of us are trying to enjoy a holiday.
🇺🇸 A Moment of Thanks
It’s easy to get caught up in the arguments, the scandals, the headlines, and the chaos of the world — but today, of all days, deserves a pause.
A moment to remember:
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Soldiers on street patrols
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Police officers on holiday shifts
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Firefighters and EMTs answering calls while their families eat without them
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Military personnel deployed overseas
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Border agents working 16-hour days
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First responders who don’t get holidays, weekends, or excuses
These people don’t get to take the day off — even when danger comes looking for them.
Final Thought
Give thanks today.
Give thanks loudly.
Give thanks with purpose.
Because while most of America was prepping for dinner yesterday, two soldiers were bleeding on the sidewalk in Washington, D.C. — simply because they showed up to do their job.
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