WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal officials are scrambling for answers after a shocking ambush-style shooting just blocks from the White House left two West Virginia National Guard members — 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe –– fighting for their lives — and the suspect now accused of pulling the trigger reportedly once worked with the CIA overseas.
The attack unfolded Wednesday afternoon in downtown D.C., during a time of heightened political tension surrounding the deployment of Guard units in cities across the country.
CIA Director Confirms Suspect’s Past Ties to U.S. Intelligence
On Thursday, CIA Director John Ratcliffe publicly confirmed that the accused gunman — identified by law-enforcement sources as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal — had previously worked with U.S. intelligence agencies.
Ratcliffe said Lakanwal served “as a member of a partner force in Kandahar” during the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, adding that the relationship ended shortly after the chaotic final withdrawal of American personnel in 2021. Authorities have not detailed the nature of his role or duties.
Guard Members Still Hospitalized After Ambush
According to FBI Director Kash Patel and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, both Guard members remained in critical condition Wednesday evening.
Confusion spread earlier when West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially announced the troops had died, only to later retract the statement, saying he had received “conflicting reports” about their condition.
It is with great sorrow that we can confirm both members of the West Virginia National Guard who were shot earlier today in Washington, DC have passed away from their injuries. These brave West Virginians lost their lives in the service of their country. We are in ongoing contact…
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 26, 2025
We are now receiving conflicting reports about the condition of our two Guard members and will provide additional updates once we receive more complete information.
Our prayers are with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community.
— Governor Patrick Morrisey (@wvgovernor) November 26, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking on Fox News Thursday morning, said the soldiers had “come through surgery” but declined to provide further updates, stating future charges will depend heavily on the victims’ prognosis.
“If something happens, I will tell you right now,” Bondi said. “We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster.”
Investigators say the shooting happened in a matter of seconds. D.C. Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said surveillance video shows the suspect turning a corner and immediately opening fire on the troops without warning. Other Guard members nearby quickly returned fire, striking the suspect. Lakanwal was detained at the scene with non-life-threatening wounds.
Suspect Entered U.S. Under Operation Allies Welcome
Federal officials confirmed the accused gunman entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden-era resettlement program that relocated tens of thousands of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces.
The program — which brought roughly 76,000 Afghan evacuees to the U.S. — has become a major political lightning rod, with conservatives claiming the vetting process was rushed.
Sources say Lakanwal had recently been living in Washington state with his wife and five children. A former landlord in Bellingham described the family as “quiet” and said they arrived several years ago.
Trump Responds: Calls for Re-Vetting All Afghan Evacuees
President Donald Trump released a video Wednesday night demanding that all Afghan refugees admitted under President Biden undergo renewed security screening.
“If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” Trump said, calling the shooting “a crime against our entire nation.”
500 More Guardsmen Ordered to D.C.
In response to the attack, the Trump administration ordered 500 additional National Guard members to Washington, citing concerns about public safety and political unrest.
Investigators Still Searching for Motive
Authorities say they have not identified any motive behind the shooting.
“There’s nothing right now indicating why he targeted the troops,” Carroll said, adding that investigators are reviewing the suspect’s background, digital history, and past affiliations.
The attack marks one of the rarest types of violence in modern U.S. history — an assault on National Guard troops on American soil, just one day before Thanksgiving.
