Fatal Ambush Near White House: Afghan National Faces Charges for Attack on National Guard Members
A 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal is facing nine charges for ambushing West Virginia National Guard members near the White House, resulting in the death of Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and severe injury to Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Lakanwal, who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and illegal possession of a firearm. He was evacuated to the United States in 2021 and granted asylum in 2025 under the Trump administration.
According to court documents, Lakanwal shot Beckstrom and Wolfe in the back of the head with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. Wolfe is currently recovering and is scheduled to undergo skull reconstruction surgery in March. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is seeking the death penalty for Lakanwal, who was affiliated with a Zero Unit in Afghanistan that worked closely with the CIA and special operations.
Investigators believe that Lakanwal may have been under financial strain after his work permit expired and was possibly experiencing a mental health crisis. They are also looking into whether the recent death of an Afghan commander Lakanwal had worked with and admired may have contributed to his deteriorating mental state. The two guard members were part of President Donald Trump's troop surge in Washington, D.C., for law enforcement purposes.
Following the shooting, President Trump deployed an additional 500 guard members to D.C., where a total of 2,600 are currently deployed for various civic duties. The guard deployment is expected to continue through 2026, as reported by officials in January.