UPDATE 11/28 12:23 PM: The Afghan national suspect held as the prime suspect in this week’s shootings of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C. is now charged with first degree murder. The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was previously charged with three counts of assault with the intent to kill while armed and criminal possession of a weapon, officials said during a press conference on Thursday. As investigation into what could have caused the violent attack by a man reported to have worked with American forces in Afghanistan before the war ended gets underway, some who are reported to have known him well in Afghanistan describe Lakanwal as having mental health challenges. The suspect is believed to have driven from Washington state to D.C. where the attack occured; he is believed to be married and have five children.
The attack critically injured National Guardsman 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, who died from her injuries Thanksgiving evening, and critically injured 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, who remains hospitalized.
UPDATE: President Trump delivering news to Americans just now that the 20 year old Guardsman Sarah Backstrom, critically wounded in Wednesday’s D.C. shooting, has passed on. Another shooting victim; 24 year old Andrew Wolfe, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
UPDATE: The Afghan national in custody as the suspect in Wednesday’s shooting of two National Guard members near White House is reported to have driven from Washington State to D.C. where the shootings occurred. Associated Press reports the suspect immigrated to the U.S. in 2021 and this year was approved by the Trump administration, as an asylum-seeking Afghan national, to remain in the country pending the process.
The suspect is identified by officials as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, and remains in custody after being shot by another service member. The injured West Virginia National Guard members shot are identified as 20 year old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, and 24 year old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. At last report, both service members remain in critical condition from their gunshot injuries.
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Afghan national has been accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members just blocks from the White House in a brazen act of violence. The guard members had deployed to the nation’s capital and were shot Wednesday afternoon. The FBI director and Washington’s mayor say the guard members were hospitalized in critical condition. The suspect who is in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening. Officials say the 29-year-old is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome. That was a Biden administration program to evacuate and resettle Afghans.
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