In the wake of a shocking shooting incident in Washington, D.C., that left two National Guard members in critical condition, public attention has turned to the identified suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. While the investigation and political debates surrounding the event continue to unfold, a more personal story exists behind the headlines—one of a man with a wife and children whose lives have been suddenly and irrevocably altered. The details that have emerged paint a picture of a family man whose recent actions have confounded those who knew him.
The story of Rahmanullah Lakanwal is inextricably linked to the recent history of Afghanistan and the United States’ withdrawal. He arrived in the U.S. in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to evacuate and resettle tens of thousands of Afghans after the Taliban takeover. He did not come alone; he was resettled in the United States with his spouse and their five kids. After a long and uncertain journey, they found a new home in Washington state, specifically in the city of Bellingham, where they began the difficult process of building a new life.
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A Family Uprooted
Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s life in Afghanistan was marked by his long-standing service to his country. According to his relatives, he served in the Afghan Army for a decade, a period during which he even worked alongside US Special Forces troops and was stationed at a base in Kandahar. This service made him and his family a target of the Taliban, providing the impetus for their desperate flight to safety.
One of his relatives, struggling to reconcile his past with his present actions, told news outlets, “We were the ones who were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. I cannot believe it that he might do this.” This sentiment highlights the profound shock and confusion felt by those who knew him as a supporter of U.S. troops, now accused of attacking them.
BREAKING: The Afghan National Terrorist, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who shot members of the National Guard near The White House, worked with the CIA as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/FUMjsfNXPA
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 27, 2025
The Lakanwals established themselves in their new community in Bellingham, Washington. They were among approximately 800 Afghan refugees who settled in the state with support from the U.S. government and faith-based groups like World Relief, which helped with housing, employment training, and language classes. His former landlord, Kristina Widman, confirmed that Lakanwal arrived with his partner and five children, though the names and ages of his wife and sons have not been made public. The family’s life, though undoubtedly challenging as they adapted to a new culture, was that of a complete unit—a father, a mother, and their five young boys navigating an unfamiliar world together.
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A Life Now in Limbo
The events of November 26, 2025, have thrown the family’s fragile stability into chaos. With Lakanwal in custody after being shot and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, his spouse and five kids are now facing an unimaginable future. The relative who spoke to the media expressed this sense of desperate uncertainty, stating, “I don’t know what happened. I need your help to know why this happened.” This plea underscores the tragedy extending far beyond the courtroom, impacting a partner who has lost her husband and children who have lost their father in the most devastating of circumstances.
The personal story of Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a complex tapestry of a former soldier, a refugee seeking safety, and a family man. It is a narrative that involves a wife and five kids whose lives are now suspended in a state of fear and confusion. As the legal process moves forward and the political debate over immigration and vetting intensifies, the human element—the fate of his loved ones—remains a poignant and deeply personal dimension of this unfolding national story.
