16/12/2025
Case name: National Guard Members shot, one killed
Location: Washington D.C.
What we know: Two National Guard members shot in D.C., one killed.
Date: November 2025
Attack On the National Guard: One Injured, One Killed
On November 26, 2025, two members of the West Virginia National Guard, U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who had both been deployed to Washington, D.C., were shot in Washington D.C. The attack took place the day before Thanksgiving and stunned people throughout the United States.
The suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had been living in the state of Washington with his family. He was also shot and injured. Officials believe that Lakanwal left his home in Washington and drove to Washington D.C. to carry out the attack.
Sarah Beckstrom was seriously injured and died from her injuries on Thanksgiving Day. Andrew Wolfe was also seriously injured and is currently in critical condition in the hospital.
Prosecutors have charged Lakanwal with murder. Currently, the motive for the attack on the National Guard members is unknown.
Members Of the National Guard, Sarah Beckstrom And Andrew Wolfe, Are Shot
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard, 20-year-old U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, had both been “deployed to D.C. as part of (President Donald) Trump’s monthslong crackdown on crime in the district,” per NBC.
On November 26, 2025, both Beckstrom and Wolfe were seriously injured when they were both shot at close range two blocks away from the White House, close to D.C.’s Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C. After the attack, Beckstrom and Wolfe were taken to the hospital.
Jeff Carroll, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief said, per the BBC, that “the suspect ‘came around the corner’ and ‘immediately started firing.’” Carroll also added that the soldiers were “ambushed.” The mayor of Washington D.C., Muriel Bowser, said that the incident had been a “targeted attack,” per the BBC.
Moments after Beckstrom and Wolfe were attacked, the main suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal who had allegedly been the shooter, was shot.
Sarah Beckstrom of Summersville, West Virginia, graduated high school in 2023, and enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard that same year. The West Virginia National Guard said, per the AP, in a statement: “She exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism.” The statement also said Beckstrom “volunteered to serve as part of Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, helping to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s capital.”
Beckstrom had also worked at the behavioral health center Seneca Health Services as a community engagement specialist. Marcie Vaughn, the company’s CEO, said, per CNN, “It takes compassion, courage, and discipline to serve in any section or area of the armed forces and Sarah (Beckstrom) had all of these qualities and more.”
On November 27, shortly after Beckstrom had passed away, Gary Beckstrom, her father, wrote on Facebook, per CNN: “My baby girl has passed to glory. If I don’t talk to you don’t be offend(ed). This has been a horrible tragedy.”
The other National Guard member injured during the attack, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, is in a hospital in Washington, D.C. and is still in critical condition after being shot multiple times. Patrick Morrisey, the Governor of West Virginia, said, per Fox News, according to USA Today, “Andrew is fighting for his life right now. And his family and all of his friends, they’re trying to harvest as many prayers as possible.”
Andrew Wolfe of Martinsburg, West Virginia, enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard in 2019. Michael Langone, who lives next door to Wolfe, called Wolfe “a great guy, great neighbor,” per CNN. Langone also said, “I just hope his family’s doing okay with it. They’ve always been good to us, and we’ve always looked out for each other, and that’s about being a good neighbor,” per CNN.
Tara Newcomb, who went to Wolfe’s school and graduated a few years after him, said, per CNN, “A lot of people liked him and knew him. I hope he’s doing okay.” West Virginia Representative Riley Moore told CNN, “He is fighting for his life. His family wants everybody to know he’s a fighter and he’s hanging in there.”
Jason Wolfe, Andrew Wolfe’s father, told CNN, “Please keep my son in your prayers.” Jason also said that Andrew is “a great person,” and “he’s a fighter,” per CNN.
Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal Is Charged
Authorities have said that the weapon the gunman used to shoot both Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.
The main suspect is an Afghan national, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. In Afghanistan he had “served alongside U.S. troops,” per NBC. During the Afghanistan War, he had also “worked with the CIA,” per the AP. He “served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army unit, known as one of the special Zero Units,” per the AP.
While Lakanwal was being apprehended, he was shot four times and injured. He is still in the hospital.
Lakanwal’s neighbor, Mohammad Sherzad, told the AP that Lakanwal had been “polite, quiet and spoke very little English.” Sherzad said, “He was so quiet and the kids were so polite, they were so playful. But we didn’t see anything bad about him.” Sherzad also said that around two weeks ago, Lakanwal had “disappeared.”
Lakanwal had a job as an independent contractor for Amazon Flex for a short amount of time. Amazon Flex “allows people to use their own cars to deliver packages,” per the AP. He started at the end of July, and continued until the end of August, but Lakanwal didn’t continue working for Amazon Flex after that.
After the shooting, Lakanwal was first charged with weapons possession and assault. However, after Beckstrom passed away on November 27th, he was charged with murder. The U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, told Fox News, per NBC, that “We are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree.”
On November 28th, 2025, “federal prosecutors in Washington D.C. filed a first-degree murder charge,” per USA Today, against Lakanwal. He has also been charged with “two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed,” per the AP.
Lakanwal had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his family, which included his wife and their five children. One of his relatives, who said they haven’t spoken to Lakanwal for several months, said, per NBC, “I don’t know what happened. I need your help to know why this happened.”
Officials believe Lakanwal drove from his home in Bellingham in the state of Washington to Washington, D.C. According to USA Today, “The FBI is investigating the shooting as possible terrorism.” Lakanwal has been described as a “lone gunman in a targeted shooting,” per USA Today. Investigators have been working to uncover a possible motive.
Written By: Elizabeth DeMaine
Contributing Writer/Editor
