Two National Guard members were shot in Washington DC on Wednesday in what authorities are calling a terrorism investigation. The attack happened during the day, just before Thanksgiving, and left both troops in critical condition. The FBI is leading the investigation.
The wounded soldiers are 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. Both had surgery and remained in critical condition. They are part of the West Virginia National Guard, which had hundreds of troops deployed in DC for a mission led by former President Donald Trump. About 2,200 Guard members were in the city at the time.
Officials said the attack was “targeted.” Video shows the suspect coming around a corner and opening fire on the troops with a revolver. At least one Guard member returned fire. Troops quickly ran to the suspect, held him down, and he was taken into custody. Authorities believe he acted alone. It is not clear if one of the troops or another officer shot him. His injuries are not life-threatening, and his motive is unknown.
The suspect is a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who came to the US in September 2021. He lived in Washington state with his wife and five children. Lakanwal came to the US through Operation Allies Welcome, a program that resettled Afghan refugees after the US withdrawal. He reportedly served in the Afghan army for 10 years supporting US Special Forces. The FBI is investigating his background and any possible connections, both overseas and in the US.
It is not yet known how he traveled about 2,500 miles from Washington state to the nation’s capital.
Former President Trump called the attack a “heinous assault” and said it shows lax migration policies are a major national security threat. He announced plans to send 500 more National Guard troops to DC, although details of the deployment are unclear.
The DC National Guard had 949 troops in the city as of early November. Additional troops from other states were also present. A federal judge had ordered an end to the Guard deployment but put the order on hold for 21 days to allow the administration time to respond.
