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Officials identified the suspect in the ambush-style shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 under evacuation programs and was granted asylum this year. Authorities say Lakanwal previously worked with U.S. forces, including as a member of a partner force in Kandahar; that role ended after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
What happened
– The attack occurred on Thanksgiving Eve near the Farragut West Metro. Investigators say the suspect traveled by car from Washington State to Washington, D.C., allegedly intending to target the capital. He was armed with a revolver and, according to authorities, shot two West Virginia National Guard members “without provocation,” including firing at a victim who was already on the ground.
– An armed Guard member returned fire; other Guardsmen subdued the suspect. He was hospitalized under Guard custody and is not cooperating with investigators, officials say.
Victims
– The wounded soldiers were identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, both West Virginia National Guard members who were patrolling at the time of the attack. Both underwent surgery and were reported in critical condition; U.S. attorneys said if either dies the office may elevate charges to first-degree murder.
Criminal charges and federal response
– The suspect faces multiple counts, including assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Prosecutors say the assault counts alone carry up to 15 years each; additional charges and penalties — including potential first-degree murder or capital punishment — could follow depending on evidence and victims’ outcomes.
– FBI Director Kash Patel said the case is being treated as a terrorism investigation. The FBI has launched a coast-to-coast probe with search warrants, witness interviews and evidence recovery across several states, including a warrant executed at the suspect’s residence in Bellingham, Washington. Investigators seized phones, laptops, iPads and other digital material now under forensic review; leads prompted interviews in San Diego. Authorities are also analyzing the firearm used.
Officials’ statements and actions
– U.S. attorneys and local officials vowed accountability. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack an attack on the United States. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she is prepared to seek the death penalty if charges are escalated to capital murder.
– President Donald Trump described the shooting as an “act of evil” and ordered additional troops deployed to Washington, D.C.
Background on the suspect and vetting
– DHS officials and a former Afghan colleague described Lakanwal as having served as a commander of Afghan commandos and special forces in southern Afghanistan and as someone who worked closely with U.S. and British forces. The colleague said he was “tough” and had been troubled after the killing of a close friend.
– National security experts note that individuals evacuated from Afghanistan under Operation Allies Refuge/Welcome underwent multi-stage vetting — biographic and biometric checks overseas and again at U.S. ports of entry — and asylum applicants had in-person interviews and further checks. Samantha Vinograd, a national security analyst, emphasized that vetting may not detect later radicalization that occurs after arrival in the U.S., and that lone-actor radicalization is particularly difficult to detect.
Ongoing investigation
– Federal agents are canvassing blocks near the crime scene in D.C., interviewing witnesses and associates in multiple states and abroad, and are scrubbing the suspect’s social media footprint and devices to establish any timeline, motive, or connections. Prosecutors say more charges could be filed as evidence develops.
