Two National Guard members were shot Wednesday afternoon in a shooting just blocks from the White House. One soldier died and another was critically wounded, authorities said. The suspect, identified as an Afghan national, was taken into custody after an exchange of gunfire.
Officials said the gunfire erupted near Farragut Square, in downtown Washington, D.C., during what they described as an ambush-style attack.
Victims, Suspect Identified
The deceased soldier was identified as 20-year-old Spc. Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard. The wounded soldier is 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, also of the West Virginia Guard.
The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who previously worked with a CIA-backed partner force in Afghanistan. He was wounded in the encounter and hospitalized in police custody.
Law enforcement officials have described the shooting as a “targeted” attack and have launched an investigation under terrorism statutes.
Swift Government Response
In response to the shooting, the Trump administration ordered 500 additional National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C. The expanded security force brings the total of federal personnel assigned to the capital under the current deployment to over 2,200.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the shooting a “dastardly act targeting the best of America” and said the additional troops would help reinforce security.
President Donald Trump, who was at Mar-a-Lago for Thanksgiving, was briefed on the attack and publicly expressed his condolences for the fallen soldier and support for the wounded.
Fallout and Reactions
West Virginia officials and fellow Guard members described the victims as dedicated volunteers, chosen to serve in the nation’s capital as part of a broader federal effort to support law enforcement and security operations in Washington.
In Washington and elsewhere, the shooting has sparked uproar over the ongoing deployment of out-of-state National Guard units to the city, a controversial policy that critics say militarizes law enforcement and raises questions about civil liberties and public safety.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have charged Lakanwal with first-degree murder and multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Investigators are seeking a motive for the shocking attack.
Meanwhile, rescue and medical teams continue to treat Wolfe, who remains hospitalized in serious condition. As of Monday, officials reported slight signs of responsiveness from the wounded soldier.
