Two West Virginia National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, suffered critical injuries in a targeted shooting incident just 24 hours after being sworn in near the White House. The attack, described as an ambush, occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday near the Farragut West Metro station, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Pirro highlighted that the two Guardsmen were in uniform when they were struck by a lone suspect. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was apprehended and is currently under heavy guard at a local hospital. Lakanwal’s background has raised questions about his potential ties to international terrorism, with authorities investigating how he entered the U.S. under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. ALLEGED NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTER WORKED WITH US GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN AFGHANISTAN, INCLUDING CIA: RATCLIFFE
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect had a relationship with U.S. partner forces in Afghanistan, including the CIA, and that federal authorities are investigating these connections. Patel stated that multiple search warrants have been executed, including at Lakanwal’s last known residence in Bellingham, Washington, where numerous electronic devices such as cellphones and laptops were seized. The investigation led investigators to San Diego, where interviews with multiple subjects have been conducted. Patel emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities will follow any evidence, both domestically and internationally. Pirro also noted that the suspect’s actions were ‘without provocation,’ and that nearby Guardsmen quickly rushed to the scene, with one responding Guardsman successfully subduing the suspect. The shooting is being investigated as a possible act of international terrorism, raising concerns about the security of national monuments and public spaces in D.C. ALLEGED DC SHOOTER ENTERED US UNDER AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PUSH MAYORKAS VOWED WOULD BE DONE ‘SWIFTLY AND SAFELY’
Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole, had his asylum application approved during the Trump administration. This has sparked debate over the vetting process for Afghan refugees and resettlement policies. Patel emphasized that investigators are looking into any potential links to known associates, both in the U.S. and abroad. The incident has also drawn attention to the deployment of the National Guard in D.C., following an executive order from President Donald Trump, and how the presence of armed forces is being used to address urban crime. As the investigation continues, officials warn that the attack poses a significant threat to national security and underscores the challenges of integrating former combatants into civilian life. The two Guardsmen, who were in critical condition after undergoing surgery, have become symbols of the risks faced by those who serve in military and civil capacities. Their ordeal is being closely watched by the public, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in government and immigration practices. WHO IS THE DC NATIONAL GUARDSMEN SHOOTING SUSPECT? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AFGHAN NATIONAL RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL