WASHINGTON — An Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program has been charged in the ambush shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members just blocks from the White House.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Thursday that the victims — Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24 — were hospitalized in critical condition after the Wednesday afternoon attack. Both had been sworn into service less than 24 hours earlier.
Pirro described the shooting as an “ambush-style attack”, saying the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, drove across the country armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver to carry it out. He is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Charges could be upgraded depending on the victims’ conditions.
“We are praying that they survive,” Pirro said. “But if they do not, the charge will certainly be murder in the first degree.”
Attack Sparks Terrorism Investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel said the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism, calling it a “coast-to-coast investigation.” Agents have executed multiple search warrants.
The suspect himself was also shot during the encounter and is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the incident a direct attack on the nation.
“Somebody drove across the country and came to Washington, D.C., to attack America,” Bowser said. “That person will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
The shooting occurred amid ongoing political battles over the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops to U.S. cities in response to what it calls a national crime crisis. Within hours of the attack, the administration ordered 500 additional Guard members to Washington.
Suspect Worked With CIA During Afghanistan War
Officials say the 29-year-old suspect arrived in the U.S. during the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, a program designed to move tens of thousands of Afghan interpreters, translators, and support staff to safety following the U.S. withdrawal.
Former CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Lakanwal worked with the agency in Kandahar, a Taliban stronghold that saw intense fighting during the war. Ratcliffe did not specify Lakanwal’s role but said the relationship ended soon after the U.S. evacuation.
Lakanwal had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children, according to a former landlord.
Questions About Motive Remain Unanswered
Authorities say no clear motive has been established. Investigators have described the suspect as a lone gunman, based on video evidence reviewed so far.
D.C. Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said Lakanwal “came around the corner and immediately started firing at the troops” near a Metro station close to the White House.
At least one of the Guard members returned fire, according to law enforcement officials.
Troops Subdued Shooter After Gunfire
After shots rang out, nearby troops rushed toward the scene and tackled the shooter, restraining him until officers arrived. Social media videos captured first responders performing CPR on one wounded Guard member while another was treated on a sidewalk strewn with broken glass.
President Donald Trump addressed the nation in a video posted Wednesday night, calling for a re-investigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under Operation Allies Welcome.
“If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” Trump said. He described the shooting as “a crime against our entire nation.”
The investigation remains active, and authorities say more details will emerge as they analyze evidence collected across multiple states.