The man accused of shooting and critically injuring two National Guard members near the White House on Wednesday entered the United States in 2021 through a refugee resettlement program created for Afghans fleeing the Taliban, officials said.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, arrived under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration initiative launched after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan to support Afghans who had assisted American forces. His identity was confirmed by two individuals familiar with the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly, according to The New York Times.
