Quick Read
- National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom died after a targeted shooting in Washington DC; Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.
- Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national and former CIA partner, was wounded and is under police custody.
- Incident has led President Trump to announce a permanent pause on migration from ‘Third World Countries’ and a review of asylum and green card cases.
- Community vigils and national tributes honor Beckstrom’s service, while federal agencies investigate the attack and review security protocols.
- Legal and political fallout includes a push to overturn a federal judge’s halt on National Guard deployment in DC.
On a chilly afternoon just blocks from the White House, tragedy struck the heart of Washington, DC. Two National Guard members were gunned down in Farragut Square—a bustling intersection normally alive with tourists and commuters. Within hours, the shooting of Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe had sent shockwaves far beyond the city, igniting fierce debate over immigration policy and shaking communities from West Virginia to the Pacific Northwest.
Sarah Beckstrom, just 20 years old, died after sustaining critical wounds. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition following emergency surgery. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who had arrived in the United States in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome—a resettlement program for Afghans after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to CNN and Al Jazeera, Lakanwal previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan and had been living in Bellingham, Washington with his wife and five children.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Police say the attack occurred just after 2:15pm, when Lakanwal approached three National Guard members on duty near Farragut Square. Witnesses describe a sudden, targeted ambush: the gunman raised a .357 Magnum revolver and opened fire, striking Beckstrom and Wolfe before being wounded himself as a third Guardsman returned fire. The area, usually adorned with festive decorations for the holidays, was quickly cordoned off as law enforcement responded.
“It appears to be a lone gunman who ambushed these members of the National Guard,” said DC Metropolitan Police executive assistant chief Jeffery Carroll. The suspect was taken to hospital under police custody. Authorities have since charged him with multiple counts of assault.
Victims: Service, Sacrifice, and Community Mourning
Sarah Beckstrom, remembered as a “loving, caring person” by friends and family, enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023. She served as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company and volunteered for deployment to Washington. Beckstrom had ambitions beyond the Guard—hoping to join the FBI, believing her service would open new doors.
Her loss has devastated her hometown of Webster Springs, West Virginia. Candlelight vigils gathered classmates, neighbors, and fellow Guardsmen, each sharing stories of her kindness and commitment. “Her loss is felt profoundly across our One Guard Family and throughout the Mountain State,” said Maj. Gen. Jim Seward, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard. Tributes poured in from across the country, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump, who spoke with Beckstrom’s family and indicated he may attend her funeral.
Andrew Wolfe, the other victim, is a native of Martinsburg, West Virginia, serving with the Force Support Squadron of the 167th Airlift Wing. Wolfe joined the Guard in 2019 and was deployed to DC in August. His father, Jason Wolfe, asked for prayers as Andrew remains in critical condition: “He’s a great person and a fighter.” Community support has been strong, with local officials and residents rallying behind both families.
Suspect’s Background: Vetting, Migration, and Federal Response
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, arrived in the US under a special program for Afghan allies. He was vetted by the CIA and other agencies before his arrival—officials say “he was clean on all checks.” Lakanwal applied for asylum in December 2024; his application was approved in April 2025, after President Trump took office. He had previously worked with CIA Zero Units in Afghanistan, engaging in high-intensity operations during the war and helping secure Kabul airport during the chaotic US withdrawal.
Officials have confirmed Lakanwal had no known ties to terror groups and underwent repeated security checks. Nonetheless, his actions have triggered a sweeping review of the vetting process for migrants and refugees, especially those who assisted US operations abroad.
Political Fallout: Immigration Crackdown and National Debate
President Donald Trump responded swiftly and forcefully. Citing the shooting as justification, he announced a “permanent pause” on migration from all so-called “Third World Countries,” a term he has used to refer to developing nations. The administration is reviewing all green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries “of concern”—including Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan, and others—and is reexamining all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.
“These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations,” Trump posted on Truth Social. He also stated intentions to end federal benefits for noncitizens and to denaturalize and deport those deemed security risks.
The administration is considering deporting Lakanwal’s family, who remain in Bellingham, Washington. US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro confirmed that federal agencies are working to determine their legal status. The Taliban ambassador to Qatar called for a “vast investigation,” asserting that individuals like Lakanwal “were not faithful to their country.” The incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over immigration, refugee vetting, and national security.
Legal and Security Implications
Prior to the shooting, a federal judge had temporarily halted Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to DC, questioning its legality. In the aftermath, the administration moved to overturn the ruling, arguing that increased security was necessary. Approximately 2,200 National Guard members remain stationed across the capital.
The shooting has reignited questions about the balance between humanitarian resettlement and national security. Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services have announced indefinite suspensions of Afghan immigration processing while vetting protocols are reviewed.
As the investigation continues, DC officials and federal authorities are combing through evidence, seeking to understand both the motive and the broader systemic vulnerabilities. The mayor of Bellingham has pledged full support to the FBI’s inquiry.
Meanwhile, communities across the nation are grappling with grief. Photos of Beckstrom and Wolfe—smiling in uniform, surrounded by friends—have circulated widely, serving as poignant reminders of the personal cost behind the headlines. For many, the tragedy is not just a matter of policy, but a deeply human story of service, sacrifice, and loss.
The shooting in Farragut Square has become a catalyst for seismic shifts in US immigration and security policy, but at its core, it’s a story of two young Guardsmen—one gone, one fighting for life—and the families, communities, and nation they served. The incident has exposed the complexities of vetting, resettlement, and the intersection of security with humanitarian obligations, prompting a reckoning that will echo well beyond Washington’s streets.