Federal investigators are uncovering new details about the Afghan immigrant accused of ambushing two West Virginia National Guard members in downtown Washington, D.C., in what authorities are now treating as a suspected act of terrorism.
The shooting unfolded shortly after 2:15 p.m. Wednesday outside the Farragut West Metro Station, just blocks from the White House. One victim, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, has died from her injuries, officials confirmed. The second Guardsman, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.
The suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was taken into custody after being subdued by two National Guard members, one of whom was armed only with a pocket knife.
The Suspect: A Former CIA-Backed Paramilitary Member
Multiple outlets report that Lakanwal previously served in NDS-03, one of Afghanistan’s CIA-backed “Zero Units,” an elite paramilitary wing trained for counterterrorism raids and night strikes.
A cousin told the Associated Press he began as a security guard in 2012 before becoming a team leader and GPS specialist. Human Rights Watch previously accused elements of the Zero Units of abuses during the war, allegations the CIA has denied.
Updated Immigration Timeline: Reuters Says He Was Granted Asylum
Federal law enforcement sources previously told multiple outlets that Lakanwal had been out of status since his humanitarian parole expired in 2023 and was only waiting on an asylum claim.
However, Reuters reported Thursday that Lakanwal had in fact been granted asylum in the United States, according to sources with direct knowledge of his file.
Reuters also reported that DHS has begun a sweeping review of all Afghan asylum approvals granted under the Biden administration. Federal officials have not said whether Lakanwal’s case was among those flagged for additional scrutiny.
The news contradicts earlier statements indicating he was present in the country illegally.
Before the confirmation from Reuters, officials had said his:
- Humanitarian parole (Operation Allies Welcome) began in 2021 and expired in September 2023
- No extension had been granted
- Asylum application was pending
He lived in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. Neighbors told the New York Post the family kept to themselves, owned few belongings, and spoke limited English. FBI agents reportedly forced entry during a Wednesday raid.
Cross-Country Trip and the Ambush
Investigators believe Lakanwal drove nearly 3,000 miles from Bellingham to D.C. in the days before the attack. It remains unclear when he departed or whether he made stops along the way.
The Shooting
Authorities say Lakanwal:
- Waited near 17th and I Street NW, beside the Farragut West entrance
- Allegedly approached two armed Guardsmen
- Produced a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver
- Fired multiple rounds, striking Beckstrom in the head and chest and Wolfe in the torso
CBS News reported the suspect had only four rounds and allegedly attempted to continue firing by grabbing Beckstrom’s weapon.
One Guardswoman Dead, One Critically Injured
Both Guardsmen underwent emergency surgery.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20
- Enlisted June 2023
- Military Police
- Volunteered to serve Wednesday so other soldiers could be with family for Thanksgiving
Her father told The New York Times earlier in the week that she had suffered “a mortal wound” and was unlikely to recover. She died from her injuries on Thursday.
Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24
- Enlisted February 2019
- Decorated airman
- Remains in critical condition after being shot in the torso
Brigadier General Leland D. Blanchard II said both families “are forever changed” by the attack.
How the Suspect Was Stopped
According to CBS News and law enforcement sources:
- A National Guard major was making rounds nearby when gunfire erupted.
- He moved toward the scene without a firearm, carrying only a pocket knife.
- When Lakanwal paused to reload, the major charged, stabbing him several times in the head.
- A fourth Guardsman arrived moments later and shot Lakanwal in the leg and buttocks.
- Officers then detained the suspect.
CBS reported that the major heard Lakanwal yell “Allahu akbar” during the assault.
Charges and Federal Response
U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro has charged Lakanwal with:
- Assault with intent to kill while armed
- Criminal possession of a weapon
- Possession of a firearm during a crime of violence
Federal prosecutors are now expected to upgrade the charges to first-degree murder following Beckstrom’s death.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said prosecutors will seek the death penalty:
“We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country.”
National Guard Deployment and Security Measures
Federal law enforcement expanded perimeter security zones, increased patrol patterns around federal buildings, and temporarily restricted vehicle access to key corridors near the White House, according to city and federal officials.
- President Donald Trump ordered 500 additional National Guard troops into D.C.
- FBI Director Kash Patel said the case is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.
- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it a “targeted shooting”.
Reagan National Airport briefly halted departures during the initial emergency response.
President Trump Calls for ‘Permanent Pause’ on Migration From ‘Third World Countries’
President Donald Trump issued a lengthy Thanksgiving message late Thursday announcing that he intends to “permanently pause” migration from all “Third World Countries,” linking the announcement directly to the ambush on two National Guard members near the White House.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that U.S. immigration policy has “eroded” America’s quality of life and said the country needs time to “fully recover.”
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions … and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States,” he said.
Trump also said he intends to:
• End all federal benefits and subsidies for noncitizens
• “Denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility”
• Deport any foreign national who is a “public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization”
• Reverse what he called “millions” of Biden-era entries
“Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation,” Trump added, wishing a “Happy Thanksgiving to all, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for.”
His comments came after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot on Wednesday in what investigators say was a targeted ambush carried out by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
New Developments
- Specialist Sarah Beckstrom has died from her injuries.
- Reuters reports the suspect had been granted U.S. asylum status.
- Federal prosecutors preparing upgraded homicide charges.
- National political reaction intensifies following President Trump’s migration remarks.
- USCIS halts Afghan immigration requests nationwide
Investigation Expands Coast to Coast
The FBI is examining:
- Lakanwal’s digital communications
- Travel routes and gas purchases
- Associates in Washington state and San Diego
- Any ideological or operational motive
- His history with the Zero Units
- Potential prior threats or behavioral flags
No motive has been publicly confirmed.
Broader Scrutiny of Afghan Evacuee Vetting
The Department of Homeland Security has also halted all Afghan immigration and immigration-benefit processing nationwide pending a full review, according to Fox 5 DC. Officials said the pause will remain in place “until further notice,” citing security concerns raised by the attack.
Refugee and resettlement groups told the Associated Press they fear reprisals and community backlash following the attack, with several organizations reporting increased threats directed at Afghan evacuees in multiple states.
The attack has renewed questions about federal vetting of Afghan nationals admitted during the 2021 evacuation.
A prior inspector general review found dozens of initial watchlist alerts during the intake process — most later resolved — but concerns about screening gaps have persisted.
Federal officials have not announced policy changes.
This is a developing story. The Dallas Express will continue to update as new information becomes available.