National Guard Members Critically Injured in Washington D.C. Shooting; Afghan National in Custody

Two National Guard members were critically wounded in a shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C., on November 26, 2025. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. near the intersection of 17th and I Streets NW, close to Farragut Square. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under the Operation Allies Welcome program, was apprehended at the scene.

The victims, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both from the West Virginia National Guard, were on patrol as part of a deployment initiated in August 2025. Both soldiers remain in critical condition.

Authorities have charged Lakanwal with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. If either of the soldiers does not survive, charges could be upgraded to first-degree murder.

President Donald Trump condemned the attack as an "act of terror" and announced plans to review all Afghan individuals admitted during President Biden's tenure. In response to the incident, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals pending a review of vetting protocols.

The FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.