In Washington, D.C., the charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, have been escalated to first-degree murder after the tragic death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, one of the two National Guard members shot in an incident near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia announced on Friday that the upgraded charges now include one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, is currently hospitalized in critical condition following the shooting. The tragic incident occurred as Beckstrom and Wolfe were participating in a federal crime-fighting mission that involved the West Virginia National Guard's support of D.C. police following President Donald Trump's directives. The president expressed his condolences and labeled the event a "terrorist attack," criticizing the Biden administration for its immigration policies regarding Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the Afghanistan War.
Following the shooting, the Trump administration has suspended all asylum decisions and paused the issuance of visas for individuals traveling on Afghan passports. Joseph Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, emphasized the need for thorough vetting processes before resuming asylum decisions. This comes amid criticism that such pauses have exacerbated existing backlog issues within the asylum system, which has faced scrutiny since the Trump administration's tenure.
Jeanine Pirro from the U.S. Attorney's Office indicated that there are "many charges to come" beyond the initial murder charge against Lakanwal. Investigators are actively working to determine the motive behind the attack and have executed warrants in Washington State, where Lakanwal resided with his wife and five children. Eyewitnesses describe Lakanwal as a polite and quiet individual who struggled with employment in the United States after arriving in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, which was designed to assist Afghan refugees following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Lakanwal's background includes service in a CIA-backed paramilitary unit during the Afghanistan War, where he was involved in security operations. His cousin reported that Lakanwal had progressed from a security guard to a leadership role within the unit. Following the shooting, Trump called for investigations into all Afghan refugees admitted during the Biden administration, citing concerns over potential lapses in vetting processes while advocates defend the program as essential for safeguarding at-risk individuals.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who enlisted in the Army in 2023 shortly after graduating high school, served commendably as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company. Her life and service have been honored by many, including West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, who ordered the state flags to be flown at half-staff in her memory. Beckstrom's commitment, leadership, and dedication were acknowledged by both military officials and the President, who described her as an "incredible person, outstanding in every single way."
As the investigation continues, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., leading prayers for both Beckstrom and Wolfe. Meanwhile, the local community in Webster Springs, West Virginia, plans to hold vigils to honor Beckstrom's memory as details surrounding the incident and Lakanwal's background continue to unfold in the media.
