The suspect involved in the targeted shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., is now facing first-degree murder charges following the tragic announcement of one victim's death by President Donald Trump. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, confirmed the upgrade of charges on Friday, stating, "There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree."
The accused gunman, identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was initially charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, along with criminal possession of a weapon. This information was disclosed during a press conference on Thursday. Lakanwal is alleged to have opened fire on National Guard members, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, near the Farragut West Metro station.
According to Pirro, the suspect fired at the guardsmen without provocation in an ambush style. Reports indicate that he struck one of the victims, leaned over, and shot the individual again before targeting the other National Guard member multiple times. Video footage obtained by The Wall Street Journal captures the moments of the shooting, showing Lakanwal brandishing a gun and fleeing off-camera as one of the National Guardsmen is seen running and reloading his weapon.
In a somber announcement on Thursday evening, President Trump confirmed the death of Army specialist Sarah Beckstrom, stating, "She's just passed away. She's no longer with us." Beckstrom's parents were reportedly by her side at the time of her passing. In contrast, Andrew Wolfe, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, remains in critical condition. Trump indicated, "The other young man is fighting for his life; he’s in very bad shape."
Law enforcement officials revealed that Lakanwal, an Afghan national, allegedly traveled from Washington state to specifically target the National Guardsmen. He reportedly used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver during the attack, although the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. A search warrant executed at Lakanwal's residence in Bellingham, Washington, uncovered several electronic devices, as confirmed by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel also mentioned that the FBI had received information from the Department of Defense and CIA regarding Lakanwal's connections to partner forces in Afghanistan. "We are fully investigating that aspect of his background, including any known associates, whether overseas or here in the United States," Patel stated.
Law enforcement sources indicated that Lakanwal immigrated to the United States in 2021 during the Biden administration and applied for asylum in 2024. He was granted asylum in April, likely after undergoing a thorough vetting process under the Trump administration.
The National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump’s federal takeover aimed at crime reduction in the city, which saw an assignment of 2,188 National Guard personnel. Just a day before the shooting, Trump had praised the National Guard during the traditional turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House, emphasizing the safety improvements in D.C. "It is now considered a totally safe city. You could walk down any street in Washington and you're going to be just fine," Trump remarked, acknowledging the National Guard's efforts.