Tragic Shooting of National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.

Fri Dec 05 2025 06:13:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Two National Guard members were shot near the White House, leading to one death and the other in critical condition. The suspect, an Afghan national, has been apprehended.

In a shocking incident in Washington, D.C., two National Guard members were ambushed and shot while on patrol. One soldier died from injuries, while the other remains in critical condition. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is in custody. In response, President Trump announced the deployment of additional troops to bolster security in the area.

Tragic Shooting of National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C.

Two members of the National Guard were shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. One soldier succumbed to injuries on Thursday, while the other remains in critical condition, according to U.S. President Donald Trump. The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is now in custody.

In light of the attack, Trump plans to deploy an additional 500 National Guard troops to patrol the city, expanding the current force of nearly 2,200. The incident happened at approximately 2:00 PM EST near Farragut Square, where the guardsmen were carrying out a high-visibility patrol.

According to Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll, the soldiers were ambushed as the suspect immediately began firing upon approach. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser stated that this was a targeted attack.

The victims, identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, were stationed in D.C. to help ensure public safety during the Thanksgiving holiday. Beckstrom died shortly after the shooting, emphasizing the tragic nature of the incident and the sacrifice made by National Guard members during their service.

Lakanwal, 29, allegedly has a complicated past, having come to the U.S. in 2021 under a special immigration program for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces. He was apprehended after suffering multiple gunshot wounds during his arrest. Trump has called for a review of all Afghan immigrants in the wake of this crisis.

In an emotional address from Florida, Trump condemned the shooting as an act of terror and emphasized the need for heightened security measures moving forward.