Charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, have been upgraded to first-degree murder following the death of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot near the White House. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition. In response, the Trump administration has halted all asylum decisions and visa issuances for Afghan passport holders, with President Trump labeling the incident a 'terrorist attack.'
Following the death of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, from a shooting near the White House, charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA, have been upgraded to include one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, also shot in the incident, remains in very critical condition. President Donald Trump, who announced Beckstrom's death, called the shooting a 'terrorist attack' and criticized the Biden administration for enabling Afghans who assisted U.S. forces to enter the country. In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration announced an immediate halt to all asylum decisions and a pause on issuing visas for individuals traveling on Afghan passports, citing the need for maximum vetting. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed 'many charges to come' and stated investigators are working to determine Lakanwal's motive, executing warrants in his former home state of Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited National Guard troops and led a prayer for Beckstrom and Wolfe. Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 and lived in Bellingham, Washington, with his family, was described by neighbors as polite and quiet, having struggled to find work and briefly delivering packages for Amazon Flex. Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Trump's crime-fighting mission that federalized the D.C. police force.
