Afghan Asylum Seeker Charged in Fatal Shooting of National Guard Member Near White House

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly ambushing two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House on November 26, 2025. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries the following day, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated to resettle Afghans who had assisted U.S. forces. He was granted asylum in April 2025. Prior to his arrival in the U.S., Lakanwal served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit known as a "Zero Unit."

In response to the attack, President Donald Trump announced a suspension of all asylum decisions and a halt to visa processing for Afghan nationals. The administration has also pledged to increase vetting of migrants and review existing legal immigration statuses.

Community members in Bellingham, Washington, where Lakanwal resided with his wife and five children, had previously expressed concerns about his mental health and social isolation. Emails obtained by the Associated Press reveal that a community advocate reached out to a refugee organization in January 2024, fearing Lakanwal was becoming suicidal.

The investigation into the motive behind the attack is ongoing. Authorities have labeled the incident a "terrorist attack" and are continuing to gather information.