DC shooter was Afghani, Asylum brought in under Biden program, approved under Trump, shouted Allah Akbar

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

Last edited Wed Nov 26, 2025, 10:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Expected rightwing news cycle to amplify

[Sea Turtle]

1. What is the correct way to report?

If you were writing an article, how would you describe the gunman and this event?

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. If those are the facts, have to report them, its just unfortunate they will be used to justify bigotry

Charlie Kirk's killer.. News focused on kirk, didn't Villify people sharing the characteristics of the shooter.

[FullySupportDems]

12. "its just unfortunate they will be used to justify bigotry"

That just made me think, How terribly convenient for them. And so close by too. It's perfect, a perfect tragedy to exploit.

[JI7]

23. Shouting Allah Akbar is about ideology and shows motive

[marble falls]

26. No it doesn't. Or do only Christians show religious mania? Wouldn't it be wise to wait for ALL the facts for ...

... a fair trial before the hanging? I personally believe in due process.

[JI7]

24. Kirk's killer does show problem with gun culture

[hlthe2b]

8. One can certainly denounce it as a heinous act immediately, followed by facts (validated) only sans any interpretation

We don't know what the motive is. Even if he used the phrase most associated with Muslim terrorist acts, though at its basis is not that at all (the term, sans any other context, merely reflects a phrase meaning ‘God is most great’, used by Muslims in prayers and as a general declaration of faith or thanksgiving.

So, then after even the most minimal time to get the facts--all the facts-- of who this person is, what had been happening in his life--what he told others--what groups he might be associated with, etc. Only then should published writings try to attribute interpretation and motive.

What MIGHT be an alternative explanation? Well, what immediately comes to mind is the fact that Trump has ended the protections afforded to Afghans who came here after having worked with and to protect our troops--thereby making them enemies to the Taliban should they return. Perhaps this is a direct impact on this man or his family. A lot of people have trouble accepting that the US does not honor promises--even after some put their lives on the line for them.

Maybe he is acting only out of response to hatred published online, and there is no mitigating issue that might explain his motivation. But, we sure as hell don't know now, do we?

[haele]

48. Reports last month is that many Afghan refugees are being sent back.

He might have gotten Asylum, but friends or family members (like parents or siblings) who came over with him or he's now associating with might not "qualify" and risk being sent back.

[marble falls]

27. Seriously. Making fun of him for his faith.

[Tribetime]

4. Where was ICE on this guy....

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

6. Correction..might have been granted asylum this year..under trump admin

[J_William_Ryan]

5. Ok...

Well, if true/accurate that’s about as bad as it can get and expect the reprehensible racist, bigoted, hateful right to respond as expected.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

7. Trump dropped the ball while planning a ballroom for his balls.

[malaise]

9. I donot believe this

That is all

[marble falls]

29. Overly conveniant excuse wasn't it? Some people don't need all the facts to kneejerk their hatred of others.

[Bok_Tukalo]

10. Another ICE failure

[TheBlackAdder]

11. Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2021 and was granted it in April 2025, CNN reported.

Came in under Biden, Asylum granted April of 2025 -- Trump's second term in office.

[AZJonnie]

13. So, that does not sound "undocumented" to me, unless I totally misunderstand that term

Am I wrong?

Is the OP trying to say we'll be hearing a false storyline from the Right? If so, they should be more clear that is their intent IMHO.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

15. fast moving story. "Facts" have been changing since i posted this

[Amaryllis]

35. WHere are you getting your info? What are your sources?

[surfered]

14. Two possibilities:

1) he was a jihadist or 2) he worked for the US Army in Afghanistan and feared he would be deported by Trump back to Afghanistan, where he would be killed.

We don’t know yet.

[onenote]

55. Can you explain the rationale for your second "possibility"

Specifically how would shooting two national guard members on busy downtown DC street in the middle of the day address his fear that he would be deported back to afghanistan?

[surfered]

63. It is being reported that he did work with the US In Afghanistan. He may have felt betrayed

[onenote]

64. I get that he might feel betrayed, but how would shooting national guard members ameliorate his fear of being deported?

[Amaryllis]

16. Source?

[hay rick]

40. From the Guardian-

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/washington-national-guard-shooting-suspect

[generalbetrayus]

45. Thank you for adding a source to this discussion.

[Deminpenn]

17. Why would anyone be surprised that

an Afghani might harbor ill will toward the US military? It's not like we didn't spend 20 years fighting and killing there.

[JI7]

28. Killing was done by people there also. Before and after we left.

[JI7]

31. How many vietnamese have done these types of attacks in the US ?

[LexVegas]

41. Or Japanese, or Koreans, or Germans...nt

[generalbetrayus]

47. I don't know about these types of attacks, but Vietnamese youth gangs have been a problem in the US.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1359178910000121

[Brother Buzz]

18. So this was a documented Afghani until he wasn't?

[writes3000]

19. So the Trump Administration granted the asylum. You should adjust your headline.

To include all of the facts.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

20. ok

[writes3000]

22. Thanks. Many folks only read post titles for their news.

[marble falls]

33. Half of the posters on this thread seem to eschew facts when they interfere with their preconceived notions.

[CatWoman]

32. ....

?si=RtUIpAWKxDySfSIU

[JI7]

21. We need to be strict and tough on immigration

[James48]

30. Interesting question then.

Would that be considered a legal act of armed warfare, and the perpetrator therefore entitled to Prisoner of War status?

Since the attack was on uniformed service members, how does the law of war apply?

Do the two wounded military members qualify for the Purple Heart?

[moniss]

34. Gee I can't imagine why someone

from Afghanistan would have a bad feeling towards the US military.

[JI7]

59. The US left Afghanistan. Why didn't he stay there with the US gone ?

[Deminpenn]

62. He's reported to have asked for asylum

Usually asylum seekers fear for their lives in their home country. That's why they don't want to stay. Don't know if this person is one of them, but there were Afghanis who helped the US military as translators and guides. They'd be considered an enemy inside of Afghanistan making staying there very dangerous for them.

[Figarosmom]

36. Wow, what an asshole.

He just gave reason for trump to say he's right to check all of Biden's asylum grants and to revoke their visas and hunt them down and deport them. The fact that trump approved the visa isn't going to mean anything. He will leverage this.

Things are about to increase by 100s of degrees.

[Wiz Imp]

52. Um, he wasn't granted asylum under Biden.

He was granted asylum under Trump.

[mcar]

37. Is he trans too?

[underpants]

38. Furry? That's the new trend of talk on the right.

[AZJonnie]

43. Everyone knows that radical right-wing Islamist terrorist-shooter types

Are all mostly trans and furries, it's like axiomatic.

[iemanja]

39. I read he was granted asylum this year.

I saw that on X.

[Kaleva]

50. He was granted asylum earlier this year by the Trump Administration

Just read the report on ABC website

[dalton99a]

42. Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29

[BidenRocks]

51. Kinda chunky!

He wasn't going to run away.

[Klarkashton]

44. Maybe PTSD? Seeing those clowns in full battle dress.

He didn't do anything prior to this bullshit trump stunt.

[Initech]

46. Holy shit, he fits their narrative.

Expect Trump to make a million calls to fire the mayor of DC and deploy a thousand troops.

[Orrex]

49. We should impeach Biden immediately.

[Norrrm]

53. Recall him back to active duty as CinC? Put Hegseth on it.

[Coventina]

54. This is not aimed at the DUer reporting the story. My response is: Pics or it didn't happen n/t

[BannonsLiver]

56. Looks like a case of the Trump administration not protecting Americans to me.

They’re the ones who let him in. 🤷‍♂️

[Coldwater]

57. 79,000 Afghans were paroled into the United States

through Operation Allies Welcome, one of them sadly flipped out.

A reasonable person would conclude the vetting process needs to be improved, but there should be no further action taken

[JI7]

58. From what I remember many women and children were pushed aside

and a bunch of young men got in .

[no_hypocrisy]

60. How did ICE miss HIM?

Rhetorical statement . . . . . .

[Emile]

61. Trump is making the National Guard targets for no good reason.