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A tragic shooting near the White House left a 20-year-old National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, dead and another Guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, critically injured after what officials describe as an ambush carried out by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The attack, which unfolded Wednesday afternoon as troops patrolled the area, has prompted a nationwide terrorism investigation and reignited fierce debate over U.S. immigration vetting.
Authorities say Lakanwal, 29, drove cross-country before opening fire with a .357 Magnum revolver. He was wounded during an exchange of gunfire and remains hospitalized in serious condition. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that agents seized multiple electronic devices from Lakanwal’s Washington state residence and interviewed his relatives as part of the expanding probe. Officials believe he acted alone.
President Donald Trump publicly blamed Biden-era immigration procedures for allowing Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, to resettle in the country. However, government records reviewed by Reuters show Lakanwal was granted asylum in April of this year—under the Trump administration. Critics argue that both the rapid U.S. withdrawal and the urgency of mass Afghan evacuations contributed to lapses in background checks.
Lakanwal previously served in a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary unit known as a Zero Unit, according to U.S. officials. These forces, trained for clandestine operations during the Afghanistan war, were later absorbed into the Afghan intelligence service before the Taliban takeover.
Following the shooting, Trump ordered sweeping reviews of asylum decisions approved under the Biden administration and green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries. Officials also signaled potential terrorism charges and a possible death penalty for the suspect.
Beckstrom’s parents described their grief as “a horrible tragedy,” while Trump personally called the family to offer condolences. The attack has intensified national debates on immigration security, Afghan resettlement, and the risks associated with U.S. allies fleeing conflict zones.
