WASHINGTON, D.C. — One of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot near the White House has died, President Donald Trump announced Thursday, calling the attack a “terrorist act” carried out by a “savage monster.”
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was pronounced dead just hours after the ambush-style shooting that unfolded Wednesday afternoon near I Street and 17th Street NW, roughly a block and a half from the White House.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized and is “fighting for his life,” according to the president.
Trump revealed Beckstrom’s death during a Thanksgiving call with U.S. troops in West Palm Beach, saying he had just been notified moments before speaking.
“She’s just passed away. She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now,” Trump said, describing Beckstrom as “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way.”
The White House confirmed that the president spoke directly with her parents.
đź”´ Suspect Identified as Afghan National With CIA-Backed Military Background
Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national who had worked as a team leader in a CIA-supported Afghan Army “Zero Unit” before emigrating to the United States.
According to officials familiar with the case:
- Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome following the Afghanistan withdrawal.
- His asylum was later approved during the Trump administration.
- He was living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children.
Federal prosecutors said Lakanwal used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver in what they described as an “ambush-style attack” on the two Guardsmen as they patrolled the area.
The suspect was also shot during the incident but sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
⚖️ Charges Expected to Be Upgraded to Murder
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed that Lakanwal initially faced charges of:
- Assault with intent to kill while armed
- Possession of a firearm during a violent crime
With Beckstrom’s death, the charges are expected to be upgraded to first-degree murder. Pirro said investigators have not yet released a motive.
🪖 Guard Deployment in DC Remains Politically Charged
The shooting comes at a time when nearly 2,200 National Guard members remain deployed across Washington, D.C., part of a large-scale federal operation aimed at supporting law enforcement and addressing surging crime.
Trump had previously federalized the D.C. police force under an emergency order in August. Although that order later expired, Guard members remained on patrol throughout the capital, manning checkpoints, train stations, sports venues, and neighborhood posts.
In response to the attack, the administration has ordered 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington.
🌍 Shooter’s Background Tied to Long Legacy of Afghanistan War
Relatives in Afghanistan said Lakanwal was originally from Khost Province and served within the Zero Units, elite Afghan paramilitary teams trained and supported by the CIA.
He worked as a security guard, then a team leader and GPS specialist, and fought in Kandahar, one of the primary battlegrounds during the two-decade conflict.
The units played a significant role during the U.S. withdrawal and have been the subject of past allegations by activists, though no direct link to this incident has been identified
