A man has been arrested for allegedly shooting two National Guard members in Washington D.C., raising serious concerns about security and vetting processes for Afghan nationals resettled in the United States. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, drove across the country from Washington State with a premeditated plan to carry out the attack, according to law enforcement officials.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national, arrived in the United States in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, a program designed to assist vulnerable Afghans who aided U.S. operations during the two-decade conflict following the September 11 attacks. He reportedly worked with the Central Intelligence Agency as a member of a partner force in Kandahar province, concluding his service shortly before the final U.S. evacuation in August 2021.
According to Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Lakanwal traveled to Washington D.C. with the specific intent of targeting National Guard troops. During the attack, which occurred on November 27, 2025, at approximately 14:15 local time, Lakanwal allegedly opened fire ambush-style using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.
Details of the Attack and Its Aftermath
Pirro described the incident as a “brazen and targeted attack” on the guards, identifying the victims as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, both members of the West Virginia National Guard. Both soldiers are currently in critical condition. After firing at Beckstrom, Lakanwal is said to have shot Wolfe several times before being subdued by other guards.
Lakanwal is facing three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. If either victim succumbs to their injuries, the charges could be escalated to first-degree murder. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with Pirro stating, “There are areas we are looking into but not ready to say.”
The FBI has initiated an international terrorism investigation into the incident, examining Lakanwal’s connections both in the United States and abroad. Multiple search warrants have been executed, including one at Lakanwal’s residence in Bellingham, Washington, where he lived with his wife and five children.
Political Reactions and Security Concerns
The shooting has sparked a significant backlash against the Biden administration’s handling of Afghan resettlement, which has brought approximately 190,000 Afghans to the United States under Operation Allies Welcome and its successor program, Enduring Welcome. Pirro criticized the vetting process, labeling it “absurd” and emphasizing the potential dangers of allowing individuals with insufficient background checks into the country.
Vice President JD Vance, who had previously expressed concerns regarding the resettlement of un-vetted Afghans, reiterated his stance, stating, “They shouldn’t have been in our country.” In response to the shooting, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has paused processing requests related to Afghan nationals pending a review of security protocols.
Former President Donald Trump has called for immediate action, urging a thorough review of all Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. during the previous administration. “We must now re-examine every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,” he stated.
As investigations continue and the victims receive medical attention, the implications of this incident are likely to resonate throughout discussions on immigration policy and national security in the United States.
