Crime
Who is Rahmanullah Lakanwal? Suspect in shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC
Federal authorities have confirmed the identity of the suspect involved in the shooting of two National Guard service members in Washington, D.C. as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national.
According to federal law enforcement and multiple verified records, Lakanwal entered the United States on August 8, 2021, under the Operation Allies Welcome program, established to support Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
His immigration parole reportedly expired in September 2025, and officials state he was in the country without valid status at the time of the incident.
Law enforcement sources report that the attack occurred in the area near the Farragut Metro Station, just blocks from the White House.
The shooting was described as intentional and ambush-style.
Approximately 10 to 15 rounds were exchanged before the suspect was struck four times and taken into custody. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he remains under police supervision. Authorities said Lakanwal did not have identification on him and has not cooperated with investigators.
Early witness accounts suggest the suspect may have shouted a phrase in a foreign language during the attack; however, investigators emphasize that these reports remain unverified pending audio analysis and interviews.
The two National Guard members sustained life-threatening injuries. While initial reports suggested both victims had died, officials later stated that their conditions remain critical, and some sources indicated they may be medically non-responsive. Confirmation from military and medical authorities is pending.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey expressed shock, stating:
“Denise and I are devastated by the news that two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot earlier today in Washington, D.C. Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community.”
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb also issued a statement condemning the attack, noting:
“Violence is never the answer and must be swiftly condemned. The National Guard are volunteers who leave their jobs and families to serve the country. This is a heartbreaking day for D.C. and for our nation.”
The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and local law enforcement agencies are jointly investigating the incident.
Authorities have stated that the motive is not yet confirmed, and the case is being evaluated as a possible act of terrorism based on preliminary indicators, including location, method, and early witness reports.
Officials noted there is no known connection to the White House or a broader coordinated threat.
Federal law enforcement officials report that ambush-style attacks targeting military personnel and law enforcement have increased nationwide in 2025.
The incident has renewed national discussion regarding security protocols for deployed National Guard personnel and public safety in federal districts.
Further updates will be released as additional verified information becomes available.
Authorities are urging anyone with firsthand information, video, or witness observations relevant to the investigation to contact federal investigators.
Crime
MIT Professor Nuno Loureiro Shooting Suspect Identified as 48-Year-Old Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente
Authorities have identified the suspect connected to both the Brown University mass shooting in Rhode Island and the fatal shooting of MIT professor Dr. Nuno F. G. Loureiro in Massachusetts as Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, according to law enforcement sources.
Investigators say Neves-Valente was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside an Extra Space Storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, effectively ending a multistate manhunt.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Neves-Valente was not a U.S. citizen, but a lawful permanent resident of the United States.
His last known address was in Miami, Florida. Police have stated that he took his own life, and the manner of death is being investigated in coordination with the medical examiner.
Sources familiar with the investigation say Neves-Valente had a storage unit registered in his name at the Salem facility, the same location where an abandoned vehicle linked to the case was previously discovered.
Surveillance video reportedly shows him entering the storage complex; however, investigators initially could not confirm whether he exited prior to being found deceased. Authorities have said agents had not entered the unit earlier in the operation as the scene remained part of an active investigation.
Investigators also revealed that the suspect used multiple sets of license plates on the same vehicle, a tactic authorities believe was intended to evade detection.
A witness-provided license plate in the Brown University shooting led investigators to trace the vehicle’s ownership and usage history, which ultimately connected it to the Brookline, Massachusetts homicide of Dr. Loureiro.
The vehicle was later located in Salem after a license plate reader flagged one of the associated plates, prompting a significant law enforcement response involving federal, state, and local agencies near the Salem, New Hampshire–Methuen, Massachusetts border.
During the search, Methuen police issued public alerts asking residents to report individuals who appeared out of place or were behaving suspiciously, while emphasizing that there was no ongoing threat to the general public.
Officials noted that the suspect appeared to have employed deliberate countermeasures, including changing plates across jurisdictions and attempting to avoid surveillance cameras and facial recognition systems.
Law enforcement sources further stated that Neves-Valente was originally from Portugal, the same country as Dr. Loureiro. Investigators are examining whether there is any significance to that shared background.
It is believed, though not yet publicly confirmed by authorities, that both men may have attended the same school in Lisbon earlier in their lives.
Additionally, Brown University officials have confirmed that Neves-Valente was previously a Brown student, attending the university from 2000 to 2001.
Records indicate he was enrolled exclusively in physics courses during that time.
The university believes he may have had classes in the same building where the shooting later occurred, though officials have stressed that this information is part of a broader factual review and not indicative of motive.
The Brown University shooting occurred shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, when a masked gunman dressed in black entered a lecture hall in the Barus and Holley Science Building and opened fire on students attending a final exam review session.
Two students were killed—MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, 18, of Virginia, and Ella Cook, 19, a sophomore from Alabama. Nine others were wounded, with six remaining hospitalized in stable condition at the time of the last update.
The attack triggered a massive response involving approximately 400 law enforcement officers, who conducted extensive searches of campus buildings and surrounding neighborhoods.
Although a 24-year-old man was briefly detained as a person of interest, forensic testing later cleared him, and he was released.
Separately, authorities in Brookline, Massachusetts, responded Monday night to the home of Dr. Loureiro, an MIT professor, who had been shot and later died from his injuries early Tuesday morning.
While officials initially stated there appeared to be no connection between the two cases, subsequent investigation revealed that both incidents were linked to the same suspect and vehicle.
The FBI, along with state and local agencies, continues to review evidence, digital records, and the suspect’s movements in the days leading up to both attacks.
Officials have emphasized that while the suspect is deceased, the investigation remains active as authorities work to establish motive, timeline, and any additional relevant connections.