National Guard shooting suspect now faces upgraded first-degree murder charge

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 29, 2025 05:50 IST

The man accused of shooting two West Virginia Guard members near the White House is now facing a first-degree murder charge after one of the soldiers died, the US attorney for the District of Columbia said on Friday. The attack has intensified political tensions and raised new questions about the suspect’s background and possible motive, which investigators say remains unclear.

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were critically wounded in Wednesday’s shooting while deployed to Washington as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting initiative that placed D.C. police under federal control. Trump announced Thursday night that Beckstrom had died; Wolfe remains in very critical condition.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, now faces one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Pirro told Fox News that prosecutors expect many charges to come, adding that warrants were being executed in Washington state, where Lakanwal lived, and other states as authorities work around the clock to determine a motive.

TRUMP CALLS IT A TERRORIST ATTACK

Trump described the shooting as a terrorist attack and used the moment to criticise the Biden administration for admitting Afghans who worked alongside US forces during the war. He also renewed his push for mass deportation operations and ordered a review of Afghan refugees who entered the US under Operation Allies Welcome, the post-withdrawal resettlement programme.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with troops in Washington on Friday, leading them in prayer. Remembering Beckstrom, he said she was a beautiful human being and a great American willing to serve her country brutally targeted. He said he and his wife visited Wolfe in the hospital Thursday night to lay hands on him and pray for his recovery.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey ordered flags flown at half-staff, calling both soldiers examples of the very best of our state.

WHO IS RAHMANULLAH LAKANWAL?

Lakanwal, an Afghan national, had been living in Bellingham, Washington with his wife and five children. Neighbors described him as quiet and polite. “We didn’t see anything bad about him. He was looking OK,” said neighbor Mohammad Sherzad, who added that Lakanwal “disappeared” about two weeks ago.

He briefly worked as an independent contractor for Amazon Flex, delivering packages for around one month last summer, the company confirmed.

Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, though his asylum application was ultimately approved under the Trump administration, according to #AfghanEvac. His background includes service in a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary force known as a Zero Unit, operating in Kandahar. A man identifying himself as Lakanwal’s cousin said he had joined the unit as a security guard in 2012 before becoming a team leader and GPS specialist.

Zero Units, staffed by Afghans but supported by the CIA, were active in front-line fighting and played a major role in securing Kabul airport during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal. Human-rights activists have accused the units of committing abuses during the war.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

Authorities say they are still working to understand what led to the attack. Lakanwal’s family, neighbors and former colleagues are being interviewed, and electronic evidence is being collected from properties associated with him.

The White House and Pentagon have not released additional details. Pirro’s office said further charges are likely as the investigation develops.

- Ends

With inputs from Associated Press

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