Authorities have identified the suspect in the ambush-style shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in September 2021 under evacuation programs and was granted asylum this year. Officials 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.
The attack occurred on Thanksgiving Eve near the Farragut West Metro station. Investigators say the suspect traveled by car from Washington State to Washington, D.C., allegedly with the intent to target the capital. Armed with a revolver, he reportedly shot two West Virginia National Guard members without provocation and fired at a victim who was already on the ground. An armed Guardsman returned fire and other Guardsmen subdued the suspect, who was hospitalized while in Guard custody. Officials say he is not cooperating with investigators.
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 on patrol when they were shot. Both underwent surgery and were reported in critical condition. Federal prosecutors said they could elevate charges to first-degree murder if either victim dies.
Lakanwal faces multiple federal 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, and additional charges — potentially including first-degree murder and capital punishment — could follow depending on evidence and the victims’ outcomes.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the case is being treated as a terrorism investigation. The FBI has opened a multi-state probe with search warrants, witness interviews and evidence recovery across several states. Agents executed a warrant at the suspect’s residence in Bellingham, Washington, seizing phones, laptops, tablets and other digital material now under forensic review. Leads have prompted interviews in San Diego and other locations, and authorities are analyzing the firearm used.
Local and federal officials pledged accountability. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the shooting 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.
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. National security experts note that evacuees underwent multi-stage vetting, including biographic and biometric checks overseas and at U.S. ports of entry and asylum interviews, but they say later radicalization after arrival can be difficult to detect. Investigators continue to canvass the crime scene area, interview witnesses and associates in multiple states and abroad, and review the suspect’s social media and devices for motive or connections. Prosecutors say more charges could be filed as evidence develops.