National Guard Member Dies After Shooting Near White House; Suspect in Custody

A National Guard member has died following a shooting near the White House on November 26, 2025. The incident occurred near the Farragut West metro station, approximately two blocks from the White House. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is in custody.

The victims, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both from the West Virginia National Guard, were critically injured in the attack. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on November 27.

Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome—a program for resettling Afghans who supported U.S. forces—was granted asylum in April 2025. He had previously worked with a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary unit.

President Donald Trump condemned the attack as an "act of terror" and announced a comprehensive review of Afghan immigration cases. He stated that his administration would re-examine every Afghan immigrant who entered the country under the previous administration and remove anyone "who does not belong here, or add benefit to our country."

The FBI is conducting a terrorism investigation into the incident. Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that the Department of Justice may pursue the death penalty against the suspect.

Refugee advocacy groups have expressed concern about potential backlash against Afghan communities in the U.S. Shawn VanDiver of #AfghanEvac noted heightened fear among Afghans, many of whom now avoid going outside.