Afghan National Charged in Fatal Shooting of National Guard Members Near White House
An Afghan national has been charged with first-degree murder following the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House, leading to a pause in Afghan immigration processing.
On November 26, 2025, two National Guard members were shot near the White House in Washington, D.C. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with first-degree murder and assault.
Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated to assist Afghans at risk after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. He had previously served in a CIA-trained paramilitary unit in Afghanistan.
In response to the incident, the Trump administration has halted all immigration applications from Afghan nationals, including the Special Immigrant Visa program, pending a comprehensive review of security and vetting procedures.
President Donald Trump labeled the shooting a "terrorist attack" and has called for a reexamination of all Afghan refugees admitted during the previous administration.
The Afghan Taliban government has distanced itself from the incident, stating that Lakanwal acted independently and that the shooting is not related to the Afghan government or its people.
Source
The New York TimesFact-checking
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