Charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal have been upgraded to first-degree murder after National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom died from a shooting near the White House, with Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically injured. The suspect, an Afghan national who worked with the CIA, is under investigation for motive as President Trump condemns the "terrorist attack" and criticizes immigration policies.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, now faces first-degree murder charges following the death of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who was shot near the White House. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. Beckstrom and Wolfe were serving with the West Virginia National Guard as part of President Donald Trump’s D.C. crime-fighting mission. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the upgraded charges, which also include two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Trump denounced the incident as a "terrorist attack" and criticized the Biden administration's program for resettling Afghans, advocating for a "permanent pause" on migration from poorer nations and mass expulsions. Investigators are actively pursuing Lakanwal's motive, executing warrants in his former home state of Washington and other locations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited troops and prayed for the victims, while West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey ordered state flags to half-staff. Lakanwal, described as quiet and having struggled with employment (briefly working for Amazon Flex), entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, with his asylum approved during the Trump administration. He previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit. Trump has called for a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees brought in under the Biden initiative. Specialist Beckstrom, who enlisted in 2023, was lauded for her leadership and dedication.
