The DC national guard shooting suspect was working directly with a government agency as a partner

The suspected shooter involved in the horrific ambush of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. this week was actually working directly with CIA-backed military units during the war in Afghanistan, according to The Guardian. This is a massive revelation, and honestly, it raises some serious questions about vetting procedures when bringing people into the country.

The alleged gunman, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, came to the United States in September 2021. He gained entry under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which was designed to give visas to Afghans who had worked for the US government. The Central Intelligence Agency director, John Ratcliffe, confirmed Lakanwal’s ties to the agency to media outlets on Wednesday evening.

Ratcliffe explained that the Biden administration had justified bringing the alleged shooter to the US specifically because of his prior involvement with the US government, including the CIA. He said that Lakanwal’s participation with the agency was “as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation.” Lakanwal had worked for several US government agencies, including a CIA-backed unit operating in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar province. The same place they had to stop influencers from lying about.

Government ties for the shooter spells trouble

While the investigation into the suspect’s motives is just beginning, the details of the attack are absolutely tragic. The two wounded guards, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, are both members of the West Virginia National Guard. They are currently listed in critical condition after being ambushed at a bus stop. What makes this even more unbelievable is that they had only been sworn into service less than 24 hours before the attack happened.

US Attorney for Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, held a news conference on Thursday where she laid out the details of the assault. Lakanwal allegedly used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, shooting one guard member twice before firing at the second. Pirro stressed that the guards “put their lives on the line to protect people they don’t even know.” Thankfully, other National Guard members at the scene were able to engage the suspect and neutralize him. He is currently under arrest and receiving treatment at a hospital.

This wasn’t a random incident, either. Pirro stated that the suspect drove across the country from his home in Bellingham, Washington, with a plan to conduct what she called a “brazen and targeted” assault. Lakanwal will be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro noted that if Beckstrom or Wolfe does not survive, those charges could be increased to murder in the first degree.

The investigation is being treated with the utmost seriousness, as FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed at the news conference that the agency is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Patel stated, “This is a coast-to-coast investigation,” confirming that law enforcement has already executed search warrants at Lakanwal’s home in Washington and in San Diego, California. Patel also confirmed the suspect’s previous relationship with US forces in Afghanistan, which is already getting headlines due to the US being friendly with the Taliban.

The fallout from this incident has been immediate and political. Following the shooting, President Trump ordered 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington. The president described the shooting as an “act of terror” and called immigration “the single greatest national security threat facing our nation.”