President Trump told reporters Thursday night that Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom has died. Beckstrom was one of two National Guard members ambushed and shot Wednesday in downtown Washington, D.C.; the other, Army Spc. Andrew Wolfe, remained in critical condition.
Trump said the suspect, identified by federal authorities as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in September 2021 through the evacuation program after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Officials say Lakanwal traveled from western Washington state to the D.C. area with a loaded revolver and ambushed Guardsmen on a high-visibility patrol two blocks north of the White House. Witnesses and investigators say the assailant opened fire, then went to one of the fallen Guardsmen and retrieved that soldier’s weapon before continuing to shoot; he was detained and is in serious condition.
Beckstrom, 20, of the West Virginia National Guard, had been on orders in the District since August and had been sworn in again the day before the shooting, according to reporting and statements from the White House and state officials. Her father told reporters he had been holding her hand in the hospital and that she had suffered a mortal wound. West Virginia’s governor and others described the scene at the hospital as chaotic but full of family and supporters. Wolfe, 24, also a West Virginia Guardsman, was reported in critical condition and evacuated to a hospital after the attack.
The FBI and other federal agencies have launched a coast-to-coast investigation. Authorities executed search warrants in northwest Washington state at locations tied to the suspect and seized phones, laptops and other digital devices. Investigators are tracing the suspect’s movements in the days and weeks before the shooting, reviewing his electronic footprint to determine whether he acted alone or was inspired or directed by others, and examining where he obtained the revolver. The ATF is tracing the firearm, and the U.S. attorney’s office indicated more charges were expected; the suspect already faces counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and could face homicide or murder charges in Beckstrom’s death. The attorney general said prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if appropriate.
Officials and Trump linked the suspect’s entry to the 2021 evacuations of Afghans to the U.S.; the president criticized the prior administration’s handling of the evacuation and said the suspect had been flown in during that period. Administration officials announced steps to review immigration cases, including reexamining green-card holders from a list of countries and pausing processing for some Afghan nationals, a move that immigration advocates warned could harm vulnerable communities. Trump framed the attack in the context of national security and border control, calling it a reminder of the need to vet and control who enters and remains in the country.
Homeland Security, the FBI and local law enforcement said the investigation remains active. FBI officials said they are poring over seized devices for motives, possible radicalization — including the potential for domestic radicalization after the suspect’s arrival in the U.S. — and any foreign or domestic connections. They also are investigating whether mental health issues or PTSD from prior combat experience could have played a role; media reporting said the suspect had worked with U.S. forces and intelligence analysts overseas and had been part of partner forces.
Thousands of National Guard members, including more than 2,100 assigned to a federal task force in Washington, had been deployed for high-visibility patrols. In response to the attack, the president ordered additional Guard members to the capital and federalized force deployments to other cities. The incident prompted renewed debate among officials and lawmakers about the visibility and protection of Guardsmen and other law enforcement personnel deployed in cities.
Law enforcement and federal officials continue to seek details on the suspect’s planning, including where he purchased or obtained the revolver (reported to have been a loaded revolver with four bullets), whether he had any associates, and whether there were missed warning signs in vetting or post-arrival monitoring. Searches included locations in Washington state and warrants in Southern California, and investigators were working to piece together the timeline of the suspect’s trip from the Pacific Northwest to Washington, D.C.
Officials, political leaders and community members expressed grief and support for the families of the injured Guardsmen, with public statements and prayers for recovery for Wolfe and condolences for Beckstrom’s family. The Department of Justice and local prosecutors said they would prosecute the case fully. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the FBI as the investigation proceeds.
