Two members of the National Guard were shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday just blocks from the White House in Washington DC.
One died on Thursday while the second remains in critical condition, US President Donald Trump said. The suspect, an Afghan national, is in custody.
In response to the attack, Trump announced he would deploy another 500 troops to the streets of the nation's capital.
Just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, two members of the National Guard, both from West Virginia, were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown Washington DC. The soldiers had been on a high-visibility patrol near the corner of 17th and I streets, an area bustling with office workers at lunchtime.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll stated that the suspect "ambushed" the guards, adding that the attack was likely targeted. Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington DC echoed this sentiment, noting the shooting's proximity to the White House allowed law enforcement to quickly respond.
The guards were transported to a hospital where one succumbed to injuries. Trump, who was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida at the time, vowed to ensure stricter monitoring of individuals from Afghanistan entering the US.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has a criminal history and was reportedly shot during his capture. He arrived in the US in 2021 through a program supporting Afghan allies and is not cooperating with authorities.
As repercussions unfold, Lakanwal faces multiple serious charges, including assault with the intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who volunteered to serve in DC over the Thanksgiving holiday, tragically lost her life, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.
Trump condemned the attack, labeling it an act of terror, and planned to further enhance security with the deployment of additional National Guard troops.
