Shawn VanDiver, the president of AfghanEvac, a leading Afghan refugee advocacy organization, condemned the shooting near the White House that left two National Guard members critically wounded and urged Americans not to vilify the broader Afghan community in response.
VanDiver said in a statement that the suspect — identified by authorities as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national — must be held fully accountable for his actions. But he warned against using the attack as justification for scapegoating Afghans who have resettled in the United States.
“We reject and condemn anyone who uses, or seeks to use, violence, and we stand with every American who is horrified and saddened by this crime,” VanDiver said. “There is no excuse — no context, no grievance, no ideology — that justifies the actions of the shooter.”
“AfghanEvac expects and fully supports the perpetrator facing full accountability and prosecution under the law,” he added.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House. Officials said the suspect, who was also injured and remains in custody, appeared to have targeted two members of the West Virginia National Guard in what they described as an ambush-style attack. The FBI is leading the investigation and is treating the case as a possible act of terrorism.
In the wake of the attack, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it was halting immigration processing for Afghan nationals while reviewing its security and vetting procedures — a move that drew concern from refugee advocates.
VanDiver said Afghan immigrants and wartime allies who resettle in the US undergo “some of the most extensive security vetting of any population entering the country,” and that any investigation into how the incident occurred should be rooted in facts, not fear.
“This individual’s isolated and violent act should not be used as an excuse to define or diminish an entire community,” the statement said. “None of us want to be defined by the actions of another person.”
He warned against what he described as political efforts to exploit the incident and inflame anti-refugee sentiment. “Those who would twist this moment to attack Afghan families aren’t seeking safety or justice — they’re exploiting division and endangering all of us.”
The AfghanEvac coalition, which has played a central role in advocating for Afghan evacuees since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Kabul, said it remains committed to supporting justice for the victims and ensuring the United States keeps its promises to those who served alongside its troops.
“Our organization stands ready to support healing, to speak truth, to demand justice for the victims, and to continue to support the Afghans who love America and are part of the fabric of our nation,” VanDiver said.
