He lived in the small unit with his hijab-wearing wife and their five children. Residents said he was often spotted absorbed in playing video games like Call of Duty or FIFA, surrounded by the bare essentials of a sparsely furnished home.
According to neighbors, the family appeared to sleep on “some couch cushions” rather than beds, rarely made noise, and kept to themselves. Lakanwal spoke very little English, they said, and his oldest child is 14.
“Bellingham is very liberal,” one neighbor explained. “Very welcoming. Very diverse. Very open.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has ordered a full review of green card holders from “countries of concern,” directing USCIS to reexamine all such cases to protect national security. The move follows a near-White House shooting with Trump condemning it as an “act of terror” and pledging at least 500 more troop deployments.
Gunfire near the White House
Authorities say Lakanwal, who fought in Afghanistan and entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, traveled to Washington DC before allegedly opening fire, just blocks from the White House. Lakanwal had previously worked with the CIA-linked counterterrorism unit known as “Unit Zero” during the war in Afghanistan, according to agency confirmation.
National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, who were on patrol, were critically wounded. Later, the suspect was also struck by gunfire when a third guard intervened.
According to the New York Times, Beckstrom’s father told that she suffered a “mortal wound,” having been shot in the head and chest with a .357 Magnum-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver.
FBI at the accused’s door
After almost 16 hours after the shooting, federal agents descended on Lakanwal’s mustard-colored apartment. “I heard loud banging on the door and guys yelling ‘FBI,’” the local recalled.
“They took everybody out of the apartment but I don’t think the kids were there. It’s pretty shocking. Every sign in the world is pointing [to Lakanwal being the shooter] but there are some things that just aren’t adding up,” the neighbor added.
While acknowledging that “every sign in the world is pointing” to Lakanwal as the attacker, the neighbor said some aspects of the timeline felt unusual, particularly the long gap before authorities arrived.
Lakanwal faces three counts of assault with intent to kill and weapon possession,charges carrying up to 15 years in prison. Still, prosecutors say they will pursue the death penalty if either Beckstrom or Wolfe dies.