National Guard Soldier Dies Following Shooting Near White House, Sparking Political Fallout
A member of the West Virginia National Guard, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, has died from injuries sustained in a shooting near the White House on Wednesday, confirmed by former President Donald Trump on Thursday. The incident has ignited a political firestorm, with Trump immediately blaming the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
The shooting, described as a targeted attack, also left another National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, fighting for his life. Beckstrom’s father, Gary Beckstrom, shared with The New York Times earlier in the day that his daughter’s wounds were fatal. “I’m holding her hand right now,” he said. “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.”
Both Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of a contingent of West Virginia National Guard troops supporting what was described as Trump’s “crime-fighting mission” in the capital. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey honored Beckstrom’s service in a social media post, stating, “Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation. She answered the call to serve, stepped forward willingly, and carried out her mission with the strength and character that define the very best of the West Virginia National Guard.” Beckstrom enlisted in June 2023 and hailed from Webster Springs, West Virginia.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29. While details about his life remain scarce, officials confirmed he arrived in the United States in September 2021 from Afghanistan through a program designed for Afghans who had assisted the U.S. government. He was granted asylum in April of this year under the Trump administration, according to Reuters. The CIA has confirmed Lakanwal previously worked with CIA-backed military units during the war in Afghanistan.
A cousin of Lakanwal, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press from eastern Afghanistan, revealed the suspect originated from the province of Khost and served in a specialized Afghan Army unit. A former official from that unit, also speaking on condition of anonymity, stated Lakanwal was a team leader, with his brother serving as a platoon leader. The cousin detailed Lakanwal’s progression from a security guard role in 2012 to a team leader and GPS specialist within the unit.
Lakanwal had been residing in Washington state with his wife and five children, according to his former landlord, Kristina Widman.
According to U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C., Jeanine Pirro, Lakanwal launched an “ambush-style” attack using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, driving across the country to carry it out. Pirro stated the suspect initially shot one guard member twice before targeting the second. Other National Guard members at the scene neutralized the suspect. Lakanwal is currently facing three counts of assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, charges that could be elevated to first-degree murder if either guard member succumbs to their injuries.
The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism. Law enforcement has executed search warrants at Lakanwal’s residences in Washington and San Diego, California. Investigators have yet to establish a motive but believe Lakanwal acted alone.
Lakanwal was among approximately 76,000 Afghans resettled in the U.S. after assisting U.S. forces and diplomats as interpreters and translators. While supporters emphasize the rigorous vetting process, Trump and other Republicans have voiced concerns about potential gaps and the speed of admissions.
Immediately following the shooting, Trump attributed blame to the Biden administration, alleging a failure to adequately vet Afghan migrants. He suggested the attack warranted a comprehensive review of asylum and green card applications. “We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden, and we must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country,” Trump stated on Wednesday. “If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them.”
Several federal agencies have responded by announcing immigration reviews. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has temporarily halted processing of all immigration requests related to Afghan nationals. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded this directive to include a review of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration, though it remains unclear whether this review will encompass cases from all countries or solely Afghanistan. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow announced a “full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every green card for every alien from every country of concern,” referencing Trump’s executive order restricting entry from 19 specific nations.
Trump also announced plans to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., though the source of these reinforcements remains uncertain. As of early November, the D.C. National Guard had 949 members deployed, supplemented by forces from West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. A recent federal court order temporarily halted the Guard deployment but was put on hold for 21 days to allow the Trump administration time to appeal or remove the troops.
