On the eve of Thanksgiving in downtown Washington, D.C., a shocking act of violence rattled the heart of the nation’s capital. Two West Virginia National Guard members, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, just 20 years old, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were ambushed in broad daylight near Farragut Square—just blocks from the White House—by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. The attack left Beckstrom fatally wounded and Wolfe fighting for his life, prompting a wave of grief, political backlash, and urgent policy shifts at the highest levels of government.
According to 7News, the shooting unfolded around 2:15 p.m. on November 27, 2025. Beckstrom and Wolfe were on routine patrol when Lakanwal, wielding a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver, opened fire. As described by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the gunman first struck one of the guards, then “leans over” and fired again at close range. The second guardsman was hit repeatedly. Quick-thinking fellow Guard members responded instantly, subduing Lakanwal and ending the attack. He was taken into custody and hospitalized under heavy guard, having been shot in the process.
Bystander videos captured the chaos as National Guard troops performed life-saving measures on the wounded soldiers before they were rushed to a D.C. hospital. The city’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other officials convened a press conference just hours later, confirming that the shooting was a targeted attack and not a random act of violence.
As the investigation intensified, details of the shooter’s background emerged. According to CBS News, Lakanwal had worked with U.S. government forces—including the CIA—as a member of a partner force in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He led a unit of Afghan special forces and was described by a former Afghan commando as having been troubled by the death of a close friend in 2024 who had unsuccessfully sought asylum in the U.S. After fleeing Taliban threats in Khost province, Lakanwal and his family made their way to Kabul before being transferred to the U.S. under humanitarian parole on September 8, 2021. They settled in Bellingham, Washington, where he lived with his wife and five children before making the cross-country drive to D.C. to carry out the attack.
Investigators have yet to pinpoint a clear motive. Multiple sources told CBS News that Lakanwal may have suffered from paranoia and other mental health challenges, fearing deportation despite his recently granted asylum. Counterterrorism officials noted that while ISIS and al-Qaeda propaganda often targets former U.S. partner forces with threats of abandonment, no direct evidence has surfaced linking Lakanwal to extremist groups or foreign handlers. U.S. intelligence analysts are combing through his communications and online activity, but so far, nothing has tied him to a broader conspiracy.
The weapon used—a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver—was not registered to Lakanwal but to a deceased Washington state resident, adding another layer of mystery. Investigators found only four rounds in the revolver, an odd detail that remains unexplained. After the initial shots, sources say Lakanwal took Beckstrom’s weapon and used it to continue firing at Wolfe, before another guard member returned fire and subdued him. As of the latest reports, Lakanwal remains sedated and on a ventilator, complicating law enforcement’s ability to interview him.
The immediate aftermath was marked by heartbreak and national mourning. On Thanksgiving afternoon, Beckstrom’s father shared on social media, “My baby girl has passed to Glory. If I don’t talk to you don’t be offended this has been a horrible tragedy.” President Donald Trump, who was at Mar-a-Lago at the time, addressed the nation twice—first calling the shooting an “act of terror,” later announcing Beckstrom’s death and describing her as “highly respected” and “outstanding in every way.” He also stated, “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!”
The attack triggered swift and sweeping policy responses. As reported by LiveNOW and Fox News, the Trump administration announced an immediate halt to all asylum decisions and paused issuing visas for travelers holding Afghan passports. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, stated on X, “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” all processing would be paused. The move was justified by the need for rigorous vetting, though critics argue that the U.S. already employs stringent screening for asylum-seekers and that longstanding backlogs have only worsened during the current administration.
In addition to the immigration halt, President Trump directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to send 500 additional National Guard members to Washington, D.C., raising the total force to at least 2,688. The deployment aimed to reassure a shaken city and deter further violence as the investigation unfolded.
Meanwhile, the legal process moved swiftly. Initial charges against Lakanwal included three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Following Beckstrom’s death, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed that first-degree murder charges would be filed. Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News to declare her intention to seek the death penalty. Law enforcement executed search warrants at Lakanwal’s Bellingham home, seizing electronic devices and interviewing family and associates in both Washington and San Diego. All evidence, including the revolver, was sent to Quantico for forensic analysis.
The attack has reignited fierce debates over immigration, national security, and the vetting of Afghan nationals who aided U.S. efforts during the 20-year war. President Trump and his supporters have blamed the Biden administration for what they see as lax screening, despite findings from the Department of Justice’s Inspector General that vetting procedures were sufficient. Advocates for Afghan evacuees, meanwhile, point out that Lakanwal’s asylum was approved under the current administration, and warn against stigmatizing thousands of Afghans who risked their lives to help U.S. forces.
As the city mourns the loss of Specialist Beckstrom and prays for the recovery of Staff Sgt. Wolfe, officials continue to search for answers. The investigation presses on, with authorities determined to uncover what led a former U.S. ally to turn his weapon on American soldiers in the heart of the capital. The tragedy has left a scar on the nation’s conscience—and a host of urgent questions about security, immigration, and the bonds forged in war.
