Authorities investigating leads in Washington state, San Diego
FBI Director Kash Patel mentioned a search warrant had been executed on the suspect’s final recognized tackle in Washington state. Based mostly on what was discovered on the tackle, regulation enforcement was capable of finding folks related to him in San Diego.
“Throughout that course of, we seized quite a few digital gadgets to incorporate cellphones, laptops, iPads and different materials that’s being analyzed as we converse,” Patel mentioned. “… Interviews have been carried out and are going to be proceed to be carried out, and we are going to go anyplace within the nation or the world the place the proof leads us.”
2 Nationwide Guard members stay in vital situation; names launched
U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned the victims — Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Pfc. Andrew Wolfe, 24 — each stay in vital situation after present process surgical procedure. Each had been sworn into Nationwide Guard responsibility lower than 24 hours earlier than the assault, she mentioned.
“They’re receiving the best medical care. Their households are with them now,” Pirro mentioned, including, “It is not clear how it’ll find yourself.”
“We’re praying on a day like as we speak, when households come collectively in America and so they maintain arms across the Thanksgiving desk, I encourage you, I beseech you, to wish for these two younger folks,” Pirro mentioned.
Suspect will likely be charged with assault with intent to kill
U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned Thursday that the suspect will likely be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill whereas armed, and he will even be charged with possession of a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence. The fees may nonetheless change relying on the situation of the wounded guard members.
Too quickly to say what motive is, U.S. legal professional says
U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned it was too quickly to say what the doable motive was for the taking pictures.
“It is too quickly to say what the motive is, however there are undoubtedly areas that we’re wanting into, however not able to say,” Pirro mentioned.
Suspect drove throughout nation from Washington state, U.S. legal professional says
The suspect had been residing in Bellingham, Washington, along with his spouse and kids, and he drove throughout the nation to Washington, D.C., earlier than the assault, U.S. Legal professional Jeanine Pirro mentioned throughout a information convention Thursday.
Suspect shot Guard member then took her weapon and continued taking pictures, sources say
The 2 Nationwide Guard members who have been wounded have been posted exterior a metro station when the gunman opened hearth with out warning in what regulation enforcement sources described as a “clear ambush” and “calculated assault.”
The primary sufferer — a feminine Guard member — was struck instantly and collapsed the place she stood, the sources mentioned. She sustained a minimum of two gunshot wounds through the ambush.
The suspect, who was wielding a handgun, had 4 rounds in his firearm initially, sources mentioned. After he fired them, he then took the fallen Guardswoman’s weapon and used it to proceed taking pictures, placing the second Guard member, the sources mentioned.
A 3rd Guardsman stabbed the suspect with a pocketknife, whereas a fourth returned hearth and shot the suspect a number of instances, ending the assault.
The wounded Guard members have been deputized for the deployment however weren’t working as regulation enforcement and didn’t have arrest powers, the sources mentioned. They have been stationed exterior the metro cease as a part of a high-visibility foot patrol that consisted of presence-based safety, not energetic policing, the sources defined.
By Nicole Sganga and Jennifer Jacobs
Suspect in taking pictures not cooperating with authorities, sources say
The suspect detained within the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members just isn’t cooperating with authorities right now, regulation enforcement sources informed CBS Information Wednesday night time.
A number of regulation enforcement officers beforehand recognized him as 29-year-old Afghan nationwide Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021.
CIA confirms taking pictures suspect labored with the company as a part of a associate drive
A CIA spokesperson informed CBS Information on Thursday that the Afghan suspect within the taking pictures “beforehand labored with the U.S. authorities, together with CIA, as a member of a associate drive in Kandahar that resulted in 2021” following the U.S. navy withdrawal from Afghanistan.
In a separate assertion, CIA Director John Ratcliffe mentioned “the Biden Administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to america in September 2021 because of his prior work with the U.S. Authorities, together with CIA, as a member of a associate drive in Kandahar, which ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation. This particular person — and so many others — ought to have by no means been allowed to return right here. Our residents and servicemembers deserve much better than to endure the continuing fallout from the Biden Administration’s catastrophic failures. God Bless our courageous troops.”
Suspect led Afghan particular forces unit that labored with U.S. troops, former colleague says
CBS Information has realized that the Afghan suspect within the taking pictures led a group within the former Afghan nationwide armed forces that labored immediately with U.S. and British forces through the two-decade conflict within the nation.
Based on a former Afghan commando who spoke with CBS Information on Thursday, Rahmanullah Lakanwal led a unit of Afghan particular forces within the south of the nation and labored carefully with the worldwide troops.
The previous commando informed CBS Information that Lakanawal was left deeply troubled by the dying of an in depth buddy and fellow Afghan commander in 2024, whom he mentioned had unsuccessfully sought asylum within the U.S.
Suspect detained in D.C. taking pictures was granted asylum earlier this 12 months, official says
A Division of Homeland Safety official informed CBS Information the suspect detained within the D.C. taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members was paroled into the U.S. on humanitarian grounds in 2021. Federal authorities have recognized him as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan nationwide.
That was the primary authorized mechanism the Biden administration used to welcome tens of 1000’s of Afghan evacuees after the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Lakanwal was admitted to the U.S. in September of that 12 months.
Lakanwal later utilized for asylum with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies in 2024 and his utility was granted in 2025, the official mentioned. However his request for a inexperienced card, which is tied to the asylum grant, is pending.
As such, he’s technically an asylee as of now and isn’t within the U.S. illegally.
U.S. pauses processing of all immigration functions for Afghan nationals following taking pictures
The Trump administration has paused the processing of all immigration functions for Afghan nationals following Wednesday’s taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members, officers mentioned, after the suspect detained within the taking pictures was recognized as an Afghan nationwide.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies introduced Wednesday night time that it is enacting an indefinite pause on the processing of all immigration functions filed by Afghan nationals.
“Efficient instantly, processing of all immigration requests referring to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending additional evaluate of safety and vetting protocols,” the USCIS assertion obtained by CBS Information reads. “The protections and security of our homeland and of the American folks stays our singular focus and mission.”
The Division of Homeland Safety has recognized the taking pictures suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who DHS says was admitted to america in September 2021, a month after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“We should now reexamine each single alien who has entered our nation from Afghanistan below Biden,” President Trump mentioned in an tackle Wednesday night time.
