US National Guard Shooting Near White House: One Guard Dead, Another Critical — Afghan National-Origin Suspect in Custody

US National Guard Shooting Near White House: A shocking ambush near the White House left one West Virginia National Guard soldier dead and another critically injured. The suspect, an Afghan national, was captured — the episode has triggered renewed debates on immigration and national security in the U.S.

A tragic turn of events shook Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26, 2025 — just two blocks from the White House — when two soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard were shot in what authorities are calling a “targeted” ambush.

US National Guard Shooting Near White House: What happened

The attack occurred near the Farragut West Metro Station at around 2:15 p.m. local time, when a lone gunman opened fire on the Guardsmen as they patrolled the area.

The assailant used a .357 Magnum revolver, according to official records.

Following an exchange of gunfire, law enforcement shot and wounded the suspect and took him into custody.

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Victims & Aftermath

The two Guardsmen, identified as 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe — both from West Virginia — had reportedly been sworn in just 24 hours before the attack to join the D.C. security deployment.

Tragically, Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on November 27. President Donald Trump announced her death during a Thanksgiving-era address. He described her as a “highly respected, young, magnificent person.”

Wolfe remains critically injured and is fighting for his life. Officials say that both soldiers were on patrol to maintain security around crucial parts of the capital.

The Suspect: Who Is He?

Authorities have identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under the resettlement program Operation Allies Welcome.

Before migrating, Lakanwal reportedly served in a CIA-backed paramilitary unit in Afghanistan.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear; investigators say they are probing the suspect’s background and possible motive, including links to past trauma and mental-health issues.

Authorities have described the shooting as a possible act of terror; the case is being handled at the federal level.

Fallout: Security, Immigration & Political Reactions

The shooting has triggered immediate and far-reaching consequences. The government has reportedly suspended processing of certain immigration and asylum cases from high-concern countries, including Afghanistan, pending security reviews.

President Trump denounced the attack as retribution for what he called “inadequate vetting” under prior administrations. He has ordered the deployment of additional National Guard troops to Washington, calling for stricter immigration controls.

The incident has injected fresh urgency into debates surrounding national security, asylum policies, and the role of resettlement programs — at a time when the country grapples with both external threats and internal political divisions.

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US National Guard Shooting Near White House: What’s Next

As the investigation continues, U.S. prosecutors are expected to file serious charges against the accused; first-degree murder is likely, given the fatal outcome.

Meanwhile, the security deployment in Washington remains under scrutiny. The presence of hundreds of deployed National Guard personnel — initially meant as crime-control and public-safety support — is now under fresh debate over civil-military boundaries, urban security, and whether such deployments inadvertently raise risks of violent retaliation.

For now, the nation watches closely as the case unfolds — and the questions it raises about immigration, security, and urban safety remain stark and pressing.