President Donald Trump announced Thursday that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, one of two West Virginia National Guard members shot Wednesday near the White House, has died. Trump, speaking with military personnel on Thanksgiving, described Beckstrom as “a highly respected, young, magnificent person” and said she had “just passed away.” The other injured guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, 24, remained in critical condition.
The shooting occurred about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday near the Farragut West Metro station. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly drove cross-country from Washington state with the intent to target the guardsmen and opened fire with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. Pirro characterized the incident as an ambush: one guardsman was shot and struck again while down, and another was hit multiple times. Other National Guard members quickly returned fire and helped subdue the suspect; one guardsman shot the attacker and others assisted in detaining him.
Pirro, posting on social media after Trump’s announcement, called Beckstrom “a hero who volunteered to serve DC on Thanksgiving for people she never met and gave the ultimate sacrifice,” and said investigators seek justice. Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, commander of the D.C. National Guard, spoke emotionally about the impact on the families of the service members.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey visited the wounded at a Washington hospital Wednesday night and said the guardsmen had volunteered for the mission in the capital. Morrisey told local media he had spoken with the president and administration officials about the investigation and urged a thorough probe and accountability.
Officials provided additional details about the suspected attacker Thursday. Pirro said Lakanwal is an Afghan national who, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, arrived in the United States in 2021. Law enforcement sources told ABC News he applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said Lakanwal “previously worked with the USG, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar that ended in 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.” The FBI described the probe as an “ongoing investigation of terrorism,” and said investigators received confirmation from the Department of Defense and CIA of Lakanwal’s past relationship with partner forces in Afghanistan.
Authorities searched Lakanwal’s home in Bellingham, Washington, interviewed tenants and others, and said additional interviews were being conducted in San Diego. Officials said the suspect has a wife and five children.
Pirro said the suspect will face multiple charges, including assault with intent to harm and criminal possession of a weapon, though charges may change depending on victims’ conditions. Authorities have not yet announced a motive.
In a video statement Wednesday, Trump called the attack an “act of hatred,” ordered a reexamination of Afghan immigrants admitted under the Biden administration, and directed an additional 500 National Guard troops be deployed to Washington. At the time of the shooting, about 2,188 Guard personnel were serving in the capital as part of the federal security deployment.
This report includes contributions from ABC News reporters Ahmad Hemingway and Alex Presha.