Two National Guard members from West Virginia—20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe—were shot in Washington, D.C., today in what authorities are investigating as a targeted, ambush-style attack. Both service members underwent surgery and remain in critical condition at a hospital.

The Shooting

The attack occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday near Farragut Square, just blocks from the White House, while the two National Guard members were on patrol. The gunman approached them and opened fire with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver in what U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro described as a "targeted attack". Nearby National Guard personnel subdued the shooter, who was also wounded and taken into custody.

The Suspect

The alleged shooter has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021 during the withdrawal of Western forces from Afghanistan. Lakanwal had previously worked with U.S. forces, including the CIA, as part of a partner force in the Taliban- controlled region of Kandahar. He traveled across the country from his residence in Washington State to Washington, D.C., prior to the incident.

Charges and Investigation

Lakanwal faces three counts of assault with intent to kill and illegal possession of a firearm. The FBI is investigating the incident as terrorism, and has executed search warrants at his residence in Bellingham, Washington, as well as in San Diego. U.S. Attorney Pirro stated that charges could be elevated to include the death penalty if either of the injured National Guard members does not survive.