Who has been identified as the suspect and what was the motive in the shooting?
Executive summary
Authorities and multiple news organizations have identified the suspect as 29‑year‑old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under programs tied to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan [1] [2] [3]. As of the latest reporting in the provided sources, investigators have not established a motive — officials call the shooting “targeted” but say there is “no known” or “no credible” motive yet while the FBI is treating the incident as a potential terrorism investigation [4] [5] [6].
1. Who the suspect is — name, age, nationality, and arrival details
Multiple outlets reporting on law‑enforcement sources identified the man taken into custody as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29‑year‑old Afghan national; officials say he came to the U.S. in 2021, reportedly under Operation Allies Welcome or related programs after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan [1] [2] [3].
2. Official status and background details being reported
Reports note Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024 and was reportedly granted asylum in April 2025, according to CNN and ABC reporting citing officials; other accounts say authorities are still verifying personal details and where he was living prior to the incident [1] [6] [7]. The Department of Homeland Security is cited in some reports as identifying the suspect by name [3] [1].
3. What authorities explicitly say about motive
Local and federal officials repeatedly emphasize that a motive has not been determined. Washington police said the shooting “appeared to be the work of a lone gunman” and Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “targeted,” but police also said there is “no known motive so far” [2] [4]. CBS and other briefings say investigators have found “no credible motive at this time” [5].
4. How federal investigators are treating the case
Multiple sources report the FBI is initially investigating the attack as a potential act of international terrorism, meaning investigators are considering whether foreign‑inspired ideology or networks played a role even as other possibilities remain on the table [6] [1]. Officials caution the investigation is in early stages and the classification could change as evidence develops [6] [8].
5. Conflicting or politicized narratives in coverage
Political leaders and advocacy outlets quickly linked the suspect’s nationality or immigration history to broader policy debates. President Trump and members of his administration framed the incident as evidence of immigration‑policy failures and cited the suspect’s Afghan arrival as central context [3] [9]. Other reporting focuses on the preliminary and unsettled nature of investigative findings — stressing identity and asylum status are being reported from law‑enforcement sources but that motive remains undetermined [5] [2].
6. What investigators have physically recovered or observed at the scene
Reports state a handgun believed to be used in the attack was recovered at the scene and that a back‑and‑forth exchange left the suspect injured and later taken into custody; witnesses and police described an ambush‑style approach to the Guard members [9] [2]. Officials noted Guard members and other responders engaged the suspect at the scene [2] [4].
7. Gaps and limitations in current reporting
Available sources do not mention any verified motive, a claim of responsibility, or confirmed ties to a named extremist group — those elements remain unreported or under investigation [5] [4]. Several outlets cite anonymous law‑enforcement sources for identification and asylum details, and some reporting notes that authorities are still confirming background facts [2] [7]. Because the FBI’s terrorism assessment is described as initial, it does not settle the question of motive [6] [8].
8. What to watch next — evidence that would change the picture
Concrete evidence that would move the investigation beyond “unknown motive” includes: publication of a manifesto or statements by the suspect indicating intent; verified communications linking the suspect to extremist actors or directives; formal charges alleging terrorism or hate crimes; or corroborated forensic/cellular/location data showing planning or targeting. Current sources emphasize investigators have not yet released that kind of corroborating evidence [6] [5].
Summary takeaway: reporting converges on the suspect’s identification as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021, while every major source cited here stresses that motive remains undetermined and that the FBI is initially treating the case as a possible terrorism investigation pending further evidence [1] [2] [6] [5].