D.C. National Guard Shooting Raises Security Concerns

The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. According to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, Lakanwal will face first-degree murder charges following the death of Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, on Thanksgiving Day. The shooting occurred near the Farragut Square Metro station during a patrol by National Guard members, part of a heightened security presence in the capital. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition after being shot. Pirro indicated that additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses, which includes three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Lakanwal was subdued and apprehended at the scene by other National Guard members after he opened fire, reportedly ambushing the guards as they patrolled the area.

Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, a program aimed at resettling Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces during the war. He was granted asylum in April 2025, and his request for a green card is still pending. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that he was paroled into the U.S. on humanitarian grounds, fleeing threats from the Taliban. However, concerns have been raised regarding his mental health, as investigators believe he may have suffered from paranoia, fearing deportation.

The FBI and local law enforcement are scrutinizing Lakanwal's background, including his time with CIA partner forces known as Zero Units, which conducted combat operations against terrorist groups. This has prompted discussions on the vetting processes for Afghan nationals entering the U.S. and their integration into American society. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the government has paused processing immigration requests for Afghan nationals while reviewing security protocols following this tragic incident.

The shooting has reignited debates over security vulnerabilities in the nation's capital, particularly regarding the protection of military personnel in public spaces. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser characterized the attack as targeted, and officials are investigating any potential extremist influences on Lakanwal's actions. Advocacy groups representing Afghan Americans condemned the shooting, urging the public not to generalize the actions of one individual to the entire Afghan community. President Trump has leveraged the incident to call for stricter immigration policies, criticizing the Biden administration's handling of Afghan resettlement efforts. The political ramifications of this incident are likely to resonate as discussions about national security and immigration policies take center stage in the upcoming political landscape.