U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a National Guard member was fatally shot in an ambush near the White House by an Afghan national. The incident led to criticism from Trump’s administration regarding immigration vetting under President Biden and initiated a comprehensive review of asylum cases.
The victim, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, succumbed to her injuries, while her colleague, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is in critical condition, according to Trump’s statement. The shooting triggered a terrorism investigation, with officials identifying the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
Beckstrom and Wolfe, members of the West Virginia National Guard, were attacked while on a high-visibility patrol duty outside a subway station, shortly after being sworn in for their duties in Washington, D.C. The suspect, armed with a 357 Smith and Wesson revolver, initiated the attack without provocation, as per U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national residing in Washington state, was wounded and arrested after an exchange of gunfire. He was reported to have traveled across the country to D.C. and is currently under heavy guard in a hospital. The FBI is conducting search warrants in Washington state and San Diego as part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspect, who entered the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome, a program for Afghan refugees, had spent time with a CIA unit in Afghanistan. Trump condemned the attack as an act of terror and called for a reassessment of all Afghan nationals admitted into the country under Biden’s administration.
Following the shooting, Trump ordered a review of asylum cases and green cards issued to citizens of 19 countries. The Trump administration suspended processing immigration requests related to Afghan nationals, emphasizing a shift in policies to tighten immigration regulations.
Furthermore, a statement by the Afghan advocacy group #AfghanEvac urged against demonizing Afghan communities in the aftermath of the tragedy. Trump previously signed an executive order banning citizens from certain countries, including Afghanistan, from visiting the U.S.
In response to the incident, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to deploy an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington for enhanced security measures.
