A former CIA ally from Afghanistan, legally welcomed into America, allegedly turned his gun on U.S. National Guard soldiers near the White House—now facing the death penalty in a case that exposes gaping holes in immigrant vetting.
Story Snapshot
- Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, shot two Guard members on November 26, 2025, killing Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.
- Suspect entered U.S. via Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome in 2021, gained Trump-era asylum, yet drove cross-country with a stolen gun to ambush victims near Farragut West Metro.
- New federal charges on December 24, 2025, enable death penalty pursuit in D.C., where no state penalty exists.
- Defense claims no motive evidence and U.S. military solidarity; prosecution pushes premeditated terror linked to “Allahu Akbar” shouts.
- Victim Wolfe shows rehab progress; Trump calls it terrorism, halts Afghan visas.
Attack Unfolds Near White House
Rahmanullah Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., surveilled the Farragut West Metro stop, then ambushed two uniformed West Virginia National Guard members on November 26, 2025. He shot Spc. Sarah Beckstrom in the head, killing her instantly, and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe with a headshot. Lakanwal shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault and sustained wounds in the return fire.
Guard members patrolled amid Trump’s “crime emergency” deployment, federalizing D.C. police to combat rising violence. This daylight attack on active-duty soldiers in the capital shocked the nation, occurring just steps from the White House during heightened security.
Suspect’s Path from Afghan Ally to U.S. Resident
Lakanwal served in a CIA-backed Afghan Army “Zero Unit” before 2021. He arrived in America through Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome after the chaotic withdrawal, settling in Washington state with his wife and five children. The Trump administration granted him asylum in April sometime after. CIA ties severed post-evacuation, per Director John Ratcliffe.
No criminal priors marked his U.S. record. Defense lawyers Edward Ungvarsky and Jessica Willis highlight his family life and lack of red flags, arguing against a “targeted ambush” narrative. Yet prosecutors point to premeditation: interstate travel with a stolen firearm.
Legal Escalation Opens Death Penalty Door
On November 30, 2025, charges upgraded to first-degree murder after Beckstrom’s death. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced the case’s shift to federal District Court on December 24, adding counts for transporting a firearm across state lines and possessing a stolen gun. This venue allows death penalty consideration, unavailable in D.C. Superior Court.
Pirro stressed the victims’ youth and holiday timing—Beckstrom died days before Thanksgiving. Lakanwal pleaded not guilty from his hospital bed on December 2, 2025. Judge Renee Raymond ordered detention despite defense pleas citing his injuries.
Defense motions in December demanded evidence disclosure, claiming no motive proof. By January 30, 2026, lawyers asserted Lakanwal expressed “solidarity with the U.S. military.” Prosecution counters with video, witnesses, and shouts indicating Islamist intent. Next hearing followed January 2, 2026.
Victim Recovery and Policy Ripples
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe transferred to inpatient rehab in early 2026, making “extraordinary progress” per neurosurgeon Dr. Jeffrey Mai. West Virginia Guard held vigils for Beckstrom, whose family grieves a 20-year-old lost to violence. Afghan-American communities brace for backlash amid scrutiny.
President Trump labeled the shooting a “terrorist attack,” blaming Biden-era vetting lapses and halting Afghan asylum and visas. This bolsters his deportation push, questioning Operation Allies Welcome’s safeguards. Common sense demands better post-arrival monitoring for former allies—CIA history offers no free pass when American lives hang in balance.
Sources:
New charges for Guard shooting suspect enable death penalty talks
Lawyers For National Guard Shooting Suspect Claim Lack of Evidence
