WASHINGTON, USA — The shooting of two members of the US National Guard in Washington DC on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, has resulted in one fatality, with the other still fighting for his life, President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member from West Virginia, succumbed to her injuries after being shot near Farragut Square, a busy area in downtown Washington, DC.
The second victim, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is in critical condition and “fighting for his life,” according to President Trump.
The shooting occurred just after 2:00 p.m. EST (19:00 GMT) while Beckstrom and Wolfe were on a high-visibility patrol in an area populated with office workers.
Law enforcement quickly responded to the scene, and the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan, was arrested shortly after the attack.
President Trump confirmed Beckstrom’s death during a Thanksgiving call with US service members, expressing sorrow for the loss of the “highly respected, young, magnificent person.”
He later spoke with her parents, a White House official told CBS News.
Beckstrom had enlisted in June 2023 and was serving with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard.
She had volunteered to serve in the nation’s capital during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Jim Justice, a Republican senator from West Virginia, expressed his devastation at her passing, offering prayers for her family and fellow guardsmen.
The shooting occurred just blocks from the White House, and a number of law enforcement officials were quickly on hand to provide treatment to the victims and arrest the suspect.
Lakanwal was apprehended after being shot four times by law enforcement.
Lakanwal, who came to the US from Afghanistan in 2021, is facing multiple charges, including assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
He was granted asylum earlier this year after working with US forces during the chaotic evacuation from Kabul in 2021.
According to officials, Lakanwal had served as part of a specialized unit known as the Scorpion Forces in Afghanistan, initially under the CIA and later under the Afghan National Directorate of Security.
He was involved in the protection of US forces at Kabul airport as thousands fled the advancing Taliban.
His unit was airlifted to the US as part of Operation Allies Welcome, which offered special immigration protections to Afghans who assisted US forces during the withdrawal.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has called for the death penalty for Lakanwal, describing him as a “monster who should not have been in our country.”
Meanwhile, US immigration authorities are conducting a thorough review of his asylum application as part of a broader investigation into the vetting process for Afghan evacuees.
This incident follows a broader national conversation on security and immigration, particularly regarding the vetting of foreign nationals who have entered the US under the special immigration program following the Afghanistan withdrawal.
In a related move, President Trump has directed the re-examination of all Green Card applications for individuals from countries of concern, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.
