New details are emerging about the alleged shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C., an attack that has stunned the nation’s capital. The incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, November 26, 2025, just blocks from the White House. The two National Guard members were on patrol when they were ambushed. Video footage of the event was released by Fox News.
The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan citizen. Lakanwal immigrated to the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to support Afghans who cooperated with the U.S. following the withdrawal of troops. As a teenager, Lakanwal reportedly worked with the CIA in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and underwent a background check for that role. He was granted refugee status in the U.S. in the spring of 2025.
Lakanwal is married and has five children. He previously resided in Washington state and drove across the country to D.C. to carry out the attack. Federal investigators have launched a broad international terrorism investigation. They are meticulously examining the suspect’s background for any potential ties to partner forces in Afghanistan or contacts overseas and within the United States.
The victims are 20-year-old Army Private Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Air Force Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. Both soldiers hail from West Virginia. Shockingly, they had been sworn in less than 24 hours before the shooting. Both remain in critical condition after undergoing surgery. The full extent of their injuries and their recovery prospects have not been fully disclosed.
Federal prosecutors are preparing to seek the maximum penalty against the suspect. They described the incident as far more than a mere attack, calling it a “direct challenge to law and order in the nation’s capital.” Furthermore, they characterized the event as a “dare and shocking ambush” that forever altered the lives of the victims’ families due to the “horrific and evil” actions of one individual. While the investigation continues to delve into Lakanwal’s background, the motive for the incident has not yet been made public.
In the aftermath, the Pentagon plans to add more troops to D.C. patrols in the coming weeks. This proposal, however, has faced opposition from some Democrats who argue that the National Guard should not be deployed in U.S. cities. The Mayor of D.C., who has previously criticized the White House’s security strategy, has shifted the focus to the victims. The Mayor emphasized, “these young people should be at home in West Virginia with their families.”