Shooting reported near White House

[otto]

Multiple law enforcement sources told CBS News on Thursday that a running theory of investigators is that the suspect suffered from paranoia and other mental health challenges that indicated he believed authorities sought to deport him from the U.S.

D.C. National Guard shooting suspect identified as Afghan national who had worked with CIA. Here's what we know.

A 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been identified as the suspected shooter in the ambush that killed one National Guard member and wounded another in D.C., officials say.

www.cbsnews.com

That certainly makes sense, and is a much more reasoned announcement than "kill the Afghan terrorist" and "send his wife and children to the Taliban."

Of course he lived in fear of being grabbed off the street and sent to the Taliban, or to a violent prison in El Salvador. That is the reality for many newcomers in the United States. People fled their country in fear, believing that the US was a democracy, and today they are again living in fear.

"Several judges have assailed the administration for not appearing to afford due process to those facing deportation. Some who had never been convicted of a crime in the U.S. were deported straight to a notorious prison in El Salvador."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/us-trump-posts-immigration-9.6995862

 

[knla]

Maybe he targeted those National Guardsmen so he could get a better gun. Doesn't make sense that he drove all that way just to shoot 2 Guardsmen.
I think he was part of a terrorist cell. He had mental problems. He was an easy target to be manipulated.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Maybe he targeted those National Guardsmen so he could get a better gun. Doesn't make sense that he drove all that way just to shoot 2 Guardsmen.
I think he was part of a terrorist cell. He had mental problems. He was an easy target to be manipulated.

I mean, realistically, anyone who ambushes an innocent person and shoots them in cold blood, has "mental" problems.
And to be perfectly frank, I care more about the broken hearts of the family and loved ones of the brave soldiers he shot, than I do about this murderous monster's mental health. In fact, I care exactly 0% about this guy's mental health.
His actions warrant the death penalty, and it can't come soon enough.

jmo

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

<modsnip>

National Guard shooting suspect to be charged with murder

Following the death of one of the soldiers, the suspect will be charged with first-degree murder, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Friday.

www.nbcnews.com

The suspect in the shooting of two National Guardsmen will be charged with first degree murder, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said on Friday, following the death of one of the soldiers.

"There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree," Pirro said in an interview on Fox News...

 

[georgiajean]

Wanting to clarify what the shooter did in Afghanistan during the war. He was not a translator.

"The father of five had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, nine years earlier. His unit was known locally as Scorpion Forces, operating initially under the CIA but eventually for the Afghan intelligence department known as the National Directorate of Security. Mr Lakanwal was a GPS tracker specialist, the former commander told the BBC, describing him as a "sporty and jolly character"."

National Guard shooting suspect worked with CIA in Afghanistan before coming to US

The suspect had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, a former military commander told the BBC, coming to the US after the withdrawal.

www.bbc.com

 

[Elley Mae]

Horrific new footage shows hero National Guardsman open fire on Afghan terror suspect

Horrific new footage shows hero National Guardsman open fire on Afghan terror suspect

Disturbing new footage shows the moment a hero National Guard member opened fire on the suspected Afghan terrorist — just moments after the alleged gunman ambushed two troops in a broad daylight at…

nypost.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

National Guard member killed in D.C. shooting remembered for 'heart of gold'

The slain soldier’s former boyfriend recalled her empathy and generosity. “She doesn’t even have to know you and she’ll do anything for you,” he said.

www.nbcnews.com

Sarah Beckstrom, the West Virginia National Guard member who died of her injuries after a shooting near the White House this week, took a keen interest in criminal justice and dreamed of one day becoming an FBI agent, according to a former boyfriend.

Beckstrom, 20, believed her service with the military police would “get her foot in the door for a career in the FBI and help her in the long run,” according to the ex-boyfriend, Adam Carr, who said the two remained on good terms after breaking up last month following six years together...

 

[Sundog]

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/21_1110-opa-dhs-resettlement-of-at-risk-afghans.pdf

According to the Department of Homeland Security, being given asylum status is not permanent and expires after a certain period of time. During that period of time, the person given asylum must apply for permanent residency to stay in the U.S. If the application is not made during that period of time, then the asylum status is revoked/finished. OP upthread has posted that the murderer was not yet granted permanent residency status.

Asylum status just gave him and his family permission to apply for permanent residency. If they applied for, and were given permanent residency, then eventually they would have been able to apply for citizenship down the road.

I don't think this guy would have ever been approved for citizenship as he would have to prove that he was supporting himself and his family, etc. and that he was in no way relying on the state to support him. I doubt he would have ever been able to do that. Seems he was still taking government handouts, years after his asylum was granted.

In any event, it is important to note that asylum is not equal to any permanent status in the U.S. It is permission to move forward and apply for residency.

 

[Telltale]

Wanting to clarify what the shooter did in Afghanistan during the war. He was not a translator.

"The father of five had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, nine years earlier. His unit was known locally as Scorpion Forces, operating initially under the CIA but eventually for the Afghan intelligence department known as the National Directorate of Security. Mr Lakanwal was a GPS tracker specialist, the former commander told the BBC, describing him as a "sporty and jolly character"."

National Guard shooting suspect worked with CIA in Afghanistan before coming to US

The suspect had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, a former military commander told the BBC, coming to the US after the withdrawal.

www.bbc.com

Mr Lakanwal came to the US in 2021 under a programme that offered special immigration protections to Afghans in the wake of America's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He helped guard US forces at Kabul airport as thousands scrambled to escape Afghanistan before the Taliban took power, a former military commander who served alongside him told the BBC.

The father of five had been recruited to Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, nine years earlier

Am I reading this correctly? It seems to say he was recruited by the CIA run strike force at 15? If so, <modsnip> I'll bet he did have insane PTSD if half the stories about the zero units are true.

What were the Afghan "Zero Units" that sources say the National Guard shooting suspect worked for?

The "Zero Units" were considered by the U.S. and its international partners to be among Afghanistan's most trusted domestic forces.

www.cbsnews.com

Those units are often labeled "death squads" by human rights groups. The units were known in Afghanistan for their secrecy and alleged brutality, and members were implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings of civilians, particularly during night raids.

The U.S. official briefed on the investigation confirmed the suspect had been disturbed by the casualties in this unit and, more recently, deeply troubled by the killing of his close friend overseas

 

[Sundog]

MSN

Marine vet tells The Post why some Afghans ‘turn on’ US forces they fight with: ‘Happens a lot more than people suspect’​

 

[Charlot123]

MSN

Marine vet tells The Post why some Afghans ‘turn on’ US forces they fight with: ‘Happens a lot more than people suspect’​

It is complicated. I would say that the time when the border was virtually open presented more of an issue, because people came through from the whole world and were never vetted. However, the people who were brought in via “Operation Allies Welcome” are different: they can’t, and don’t, want to return back.

As the person whose once-country (USSR) invaded Afghanistan, starting the unbelievable havoc with this small country, I was totally against US presence in Afghanistan later. I know that what Chad Robichaux is saying is more than truth. He can’t say too much. For Afghanistan, the war, in different forms, with different entities, plus intertribal one, has continued since 1978.

However, one always risks with the allies. And yet, for political reasons, one does not leave the allies behind. JMO.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

I mean, realistically, anyone who ambushes an innocent person and shoots them in cold blood, has "mental" problems.
And to be perfectly frank, I care more about the broken hearts of the family and loved ones of the brave soldiers he shot, than I do about this murderous monster's mental health. In fact, I care exactly 0% about this guy's mental health.
His actions warrant the death penalty, and it can't come soon enough.

jmo

Anyone on US soil is treated equally when it comes to our judicial system, so mental health is taken into account. MOO.

 

[Sundog]

Anyone on US soil is treated equally when it comes to our judicial system, so mental health is taken into account. MOO.

I agree in that if he doesn't get the death penalty, he will get some mental health treatment while he serves the rest of his life in prison. And if he ever does get out of prison, he'll be deported.

 

[justtrish]

I agree in that if he doesn't get the death penalty, he will get some mental health treatment while he serves the rest of his life in prison. And if he ever does get out of prison, he'll be deported.

He deserves the death penalty. I am having a hard time finding any sympathy for this man. He might have mental health issues and maybe he wasn't getting any help for that.. but he left his wife and 5 children and drove 3000 miles to DC to find random national guard soldiers and killed them. They did nothing to him, and he went to a lot of trouble to get to DC to carry this out. If his goal was to make a statement by doing this in DC, then to me it's terrorism. He didn't just lose it and start killing people in his town, he chose to drive across the country to the capitol and to me that shows a bigger motive.


He also abandoned his family. If he is the reason they were allowed to come to the US, then he should have been providing for them and instead he does this and now there is no way he will be providing for them, and we are faced with what to do. It seems cruel to force them to leave because I have a heart and until I hear otherwise, I am assuming they are all innocent in his big plan and had no idea.

I also want to know what his children were exposed to at home. His oldest is almost the age he was when he decided to serve his country. At some point along the way his ideas got really skewed. Did he influence his children to feel similarly? This might not be a popular opinion and that's okay, I just think this is more complex than saying his wife and children should be allowed to stay. Again, I'd say HE caused this situation and now his family is in limbo. IMO

 

[justtrish]

Horrific new footage shows hero National Guardsman open fire on Afghan terror suspect

Disturbing new footage shows the moment a hero National Guard member opened fire on the suspected Afghan terrorist — just moments after the alleged gunman ambushed two troops in a broad daylight at…

nypost.com

Looking at these photos and it appears that the soldier here is loading his gun. In that video that these still were taken from it moves very fast and I showed my husband, who is a current AD servicemember and first thing he said was why is the guy running from the gunman. I first thought maybe he wasn't armed, so he had no choice but to run or I suggested maybe it was shock and surprise so first thing he thought was to run. My hubby reminded me that is not what they are taught. If you are armed with a loaded gun, you would draw your weapon and shoot at the threat, especially a threat that was that close just feet away, not turn and run from it. Then I see these still photos, and it appears he's loading his gun. So, I question if the NG in DC are armed with unloaded weapons. Perhaps he had to run to get cover because his weapon was not loaded. No way he unloaded his gun and ran to hide to reload. In the video it shows this soldier running to the left as the shooter circles the bus stop. We know that bus stop is where the second victim ran to try to get cover and then we see him being worked on right at the corner of the bus stop.

Has anyone seen any info on if servicemembers in DC carry loaded weapons. I know they were approved to carry, but that doesn't mean they are carrying loaded guns, maybe just the weapon and ammunition.

Edited to add: these photos are not of the second victim; they are of the 3rd soldier who I believe shot the suspect. I think the video is at the link above and these photos are from that article, and they are stills from the video.

 

[Telltale]

It is complicated. I would say that the time when the border was virtually open presented more of an issue, because people came through from the whole world and were never vetted. However, the people who were brought in via “Operation Allies Welcome” are different: they can’t, and don’t, want to return back.

As the person whose once-country (USSR) invaded Afghanistan, starting the unbelievable havoc with this small country, I was totally against US presence in Afghanistan later. I know that what Chad Robichaux is saying is more than truth. He can’t say too much. For Afghanistan, the war, in different forms, with different entities, plus intertribal one, has continued since 1978.

However, one always risks with the allies. And yet, for political reasons, one does not leave the allies behind. JMO.

He deserves the death penalty. I am having a hard time finding any sympathy for this man. He might have mental health issues and maybe he wasn't getting any help for that.. but he left his wife and 5 children and drove 3000 miles to DC to find random national guard soldiers and killed them. They did nothing to him, and he went to a lot of trouble to get to DC to carry this out. If his goal was to make a statement by doing this in DC, then to me it's terrorism. He didn't just lose it and start killing people in his town, he chose to drive across the country to the capitol and to me that shows a bigger motive.


He also abandoned his family. If he is the reason they were allowed to come to the US, then he should have been providing for them and instead he does this and now there is no way he will be providing for them, and we are faced with what to do. It seems cruel to force them to leave because I have a heart and until I hear otherwise, I am assuming they are all innocent in his big plan and had no idea.

I also want to know what his children were exposed to at home. His oldest is almost the age he was when he decided to serve his country. At some point along the way his ideas got really skewed. Did he influence his children to feel similarly? This might not be a popular opinion and that's okay, I just think this is more complex than saying his wife and children should be allowed to stay. Again, I'd say HE caused this situation and now his family is in limbo. IMO

His oldest child is 14, and has the benefit of not being recruited into a CIA death squad. There is no more reason to believe his children are dangerous as there are for the kids of the many white American murderers and mass shooters seen a year.

If they deport his wife and kids to Afghanistan they are sending them to be slaughtered by the Taliban. That is an agknowleged reality and the reason even Trumps administration ratified his asylum claim.

I hope it does not need to be said that he should be tried and punished accordingly, but even considering punishing this man by executing his wife and young children by proxy is inhumane beyond words.

 

[Donswife48]

He deserves the death penalty. I am having a hard time finding any sympathy for this man. He might have mental health issues and maybe he wasn't getting any help for that.. but he left his wife and 5 children and drove 3000 miles to DC to find random national guard soldiers and killed them. They did nothing to him, and he went to a lot of trouble to get to DC to carry this out. If his goal was to make a statement by doing this in DC, then to me it's terrorism. He didn't just lose it and start killing people in his town, he chose to drive across the country to the capitol and to me that shows a bigger motive.


He also abandoned his family. If he is the reason they were allowed to come to the US, then he should have been providing for them and instead he does this and now there is no way he will be providing for them, and we are faced with what to do. It seems cruel to force them to leave because I have a heart and until I hear otherwise, I am assuming they are all innocent in his big plan and had no idea.

I also want to know what his children were exposed to at home. His oldest is almost the age he was when he decided to serve his country. At some point along the way his ideas got really skewed. Did he influence his children to feel similarly? This might not be a popular opinion and that's okay, I just think this is more complex than saying his wife and children should be allowed to stay. Again, I'd say HE caused this situation and now his family is in limbo. IMO

I find something very strange about traveling to DC to shoot the first random NG soldier he encountered. If he wasn't employed and essentially not making any money, how did he fund the trip. And why would he drive that distance when he could have easily found other targets closer. To me it seems someone else encouraged him to do this, maybe paid him? I hope this is thoroughly and completely investigated because I don't think this was his plan. JMO.

 

[Elley Mae]

His oldest child is 14, and has the benefit of not being recruited into a CIA death squad. There is no more reason to believe his children are dangerous as there are for the kids of the many white American murderers and mass shooters seen a year.

If they deport his wife and kids to Afghanistan they are sending them to be slaughtered by the Taliban. That is an agknowleged reality and the reason even Trumps administration ratified his asylum claim.

I hope it does not need to be said that he should be tried and punished accordingly, but even considering punishing this man by executing his wife and young children by proxy is inhumane beyond words.

Hamza bin laden was 12 when his father osama the head of al-qaeda attacked on 9/11.
He was supposedly killed 2019 but it’s been reported that he is still alive.
I would not trust his kids.
Jmo

 

[Stunned]

I find something very strange about traveling to DC to shoot the first random NG soldier he encountered. If he wasn't employed and essentially not making any money, how did he fund the trip. And why would he drive that distance when he could have easily found other targets closer. To me it seems someone else encouraged him to do this, maybe paid him? I hope this is thoroughly and completely investigated because I don't think this was his plan. JMO.

I would love to see a thorough investigation. I just have doubts it will happen. IMO

 

[Telltale]

Hamza bin laden was 12 when his father osama the head of al-qaeda attacked on 9/11.
He was supposedly killed 2019 but it’s been reported that he is still alive.
I would not trust his kids.
Jmo

This guy spent most of a decade killing Taliban for America. Whatever Trump spouts, he will have been extensively vetted before being permitted to come to America. Plenty allied Afghans who didn't pass got left behind (and died.)

That is not to say he was not motivated by grievances against America. That much seems likely. It's not impossible, but I am going to need to see evidence he was motivated by fundamentalist islamic terrorism, beyond him being Afghani. <modsnip: No link to "resume">

From a purely cynical viewpoint, you know what would be the path most likely to ensure his kids do not get traumatised and radicalised against America in the wake of this? If (if cleared) they see their mother and brother's treated with consideration and compassion despite their father's crimes. The youngest is five <modsnip>. This would not be a conversation if their father had his record as an American veteran of the same war.