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A federal prosecutor in Washington announced today that the charges against the man accused of ambushing two National Guard members have been upgraded to first-degree murder, a grim confirmation that this was not a random act but an attack on the very people sworn to protect our capital. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro made the announcement as investigators laid out the horrific sequence that left one guardsman dead and another fighting for life. This moment should sober every American who still believes open-door policies and sloppy vetting carry no price.
The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who came to the United States under post‑2021 resettlement programs and who reportedly had prior ties to U.S.-backed units in Afghanistan. Reports say he drove across the country to Washington and carried out a brazen ambush near the White House, armed with a revolver — details that should trigger immediate questions about how and why someone with that background was in a position to carry out such carnage. Conservatives have warned for years that lax vetting and sloppy immigration enforcement endanger American lives; now we see the terrible consequences.
The names of the victims have been released and they represent the very best of our country: young National Guard members who had just been sworn in and were doing their duty in the capital. One has sadly died from wounds suffered in the attack, while the other remains in critical condition — a tragedy that cuts to the core of every community that sends sons and daughters into uniform. These are not statistics; they are neighbors and patriots, and their suffering demands more than hollow platitudes from elected officials.
Prosecutors initially filed counts of assault with intent to kill and weapons offenses, but have been clear the case will be upgraded to murder if the injured servicemember does not survive, and federal law enforcement is treating the incident with the full seriousness it warrants. The Justice Department, local authorities, and national security agencies are all involved, and there are even early flags of possible terrorism-related motives as investigators probe the suspect’s past and travel. This is precisely why common-sense security measures and accountability in immigration policy are not partisan talking points — they are matters of life and death.
Already we are seeing sensible immediate reactions: a reexamination of asylum cases and immigrant vetting procedures and pauses in processing where investigators suspect vulnerabilities. That response should be the beginning, not the end; Washington must stop pretending that broad, catch-all approaches to resettlement are sufficient when our servicemembers’ safety is on the line. Leaders who shriek about “compassion” while ignoring commonsense security measures are selling Americans short and putting troops at risk.
Americans who love this country should demand three things right now: swift and unflinching justice for the fallen guardsman, a transparent review of how this individual entered and moved around this country, and durable policy changes that prioritize the safety of citizens and service members over virtue-signaling. Jeanine Pirro and prosecutors who are moving decisively deserve support as they pursue the strongest charges possible. If Washington will not act to secure our streets and vet those who enter, then the public must raise its voice until it does.
