National Guard Shooting Victims Identified as Feds Reveal More Details about ‘Brazen’ D.C. Attack

Authorities have identified the two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot near the White House in Washington, D.C., in an attack allegedly carried out by a man who previously worked with the CIA during the war in Afghanistan.

The shooting took place on Wednesday, Nov. 26, when the two Guard members, who were deployed in the nation’s capital, were fired upon close to the White House, the Associated Press reported.

At a press conference on Thursday, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro identified the victims as Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, according to reports from the AP, NBC News and CNN. Both remain hospitalized in critical condition.

Pirro said, per CNN, that Beckstrom and Wolfe had been sworn into their roles just 24 hours before the attack.

“Two uniformed guardsmen were ambushed in a brazen and targeted attack,” Pirro said, according to the outlets.

Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national residing in Washington state, the outlets reported.

Lakanwal has been charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, as well as possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, according to the AP.

Pirro said prosecutors are closely watching the soldiers’ conditions as they consider whether to add more serious charges, NBC reported. She noted that if either victim dies, prosecutors will pursue first-degree murder charges.

At Thursday’s press conference, Pirro said it was too early to determine a motive. She alleged that Lakanwal drove across the country before the shooting and used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver in the attack.

Citing officials, the AP reported that Lakanwal came to the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program launched during the Biden administration to evacuate and resettle Afghans following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

In a statement reported by CNN, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said that Lakanwal had worked with the agency as part of a “partner force in Kandahar.”

According to NBC, Lakanwal was also shot during the incident and was transported to a hospital.