A National Guard agent is killed after a shooting near the White House in Washington, DC

A selfie of Sarah in military uniform and a slight smile — photo caption, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and her accomplice, Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot at close range, according to authorities’ investigation.

- author, Darius Brooks
- Author title, BBC World News
November 26, 2025

Updated 28 minutes ago

Two US National Guard members were shot and killed on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., less than two blocks from the White House.

One victim, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died Thursday, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

Authorities on Thursday named the attacker as Rahmanullah Lakkanwal, a refugee from Afghanistan who was also seriously injured in the shootout.

The shooting occurred shortly after 2 p.m. (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, when two members of the National Guard, both originally from West Virginia, were shot at close range in downtown Washington, D.C.

The soldiers were on patrol near Farragut Square, a busy area at lunchtime.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Chief Jeff Carroll reported that the suspect “turned the corner” and “immediately began shooting.”

Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C., said the attack was targeted.

Several Federal Security Forces agents quickly rushed to the scene to treat the two victims and arrest the attacker.

Official sources indicated that the suspect entered the United States in 2021, benefiting from a program granting special protection to Afghan immigrants, after the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan.

Rahmanullah Lakkanwal cooperated with the CIA in Kabul.

President Donald Trump was at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, so he was not at the White House at the time of the incident.

A live photo of Rahmanullah Lakkanwal, wearing a shirt studded with multi-coloured diamonds — photo caption, The suspect allegedly crossed the country from Washington state to carry out the attack.

In a video posted a few hours after the attack, Trump described what happened as an “act of terrorism” and a “crime against humanity.”

He described Lakanwal as an “animal” who shot the guards “at close range in a brutal ambush-style attack just steps from the White House.” He confirmed that he would deploy 500 additional National Guard soldiers.

There are currently about 2,200 members of the National Guard in the city, a reserve force that can be activated to act as military forces, but their powers are limited, as they cannot hold police positions or make arrests.

Trump deployed troops in August to tackle what he described as “out of control” crime in the nation’s capital.

Many patrols and agents guard the site of the attack — photo caption, The attack occurred at a busy intersection in Washington, D.C., a few blocks from the White House.

Who are the victims?

The victims were identified as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24.

President Trump said Beckstrom died Thursday from his injuries.

For his part, Wolf remains in critical condition, according to the latest statement issued by the authorities.

Both were members of the West Virginia National Guard, according to federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro. “They were in Washington, D.C., to ensure the security of the city,” he said at a press conference on Thursday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that Beckstrom joined the National Guard to work in the nation’s capital over the Thanksgiving holiday.

He added: “I volunteered, like many of these guards, so that others could go home with their families, but now their families are in the hospital rooms with them as they fight for their lives.”

Side-by-side photos of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, dressed in National Guard uniforms — photo caption, Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro noted that Beckstrom and Wolff “were in Washington, D.C., to ensure the city’s security.”

What is known about the attacker?

The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakkanwal and described him as a “foreign criminal from Afghanistan.”

Officials said the man is 29 years old and is not cooperating with authorities. He is believed to have arrived in the United States in 2021. He resided in Washington state on the west coast of the country with his wife and five children.

According to preliminary information, the suspect arrived in the country as part of a program for Afghans called “Operation Welcoming Allies” and was created during Joe Biden’s presidency after the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.

A federal official looks at photos of the two victims and the suspect presented at a news conference. — photo caption, Authorities showed photos of the two attacking guards and the suspect at a press conference.

FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday that Lakhanwal had a relationship in Afghanistan with American forces. CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated that he worked with that intelligence agency.

He applied for asylum in 2024 and his request was approved earlier this year, an official told CBS.

Following the suspect’s connection to Afghanistan, Trump said the United States “must now re-screen every foreign national who entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden.”

The president also stopped processing all immigration applications from Afghans.

Police sources told CBS News that during his arrest, the suspect was shot four times.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks alongside District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials during a news conference. — photo caption, “The suspect came around the corner and immediately began discharging a firearm.”

With information from the BBC News team in Washington, DC

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