Investigators say the 29-year-old drove from Washington state and opened fire with a .357 revolver.
WASHINGTON — A 29-year-old man identified by authorities as Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of ambushing two West Virginia National Guard soldiers near the White House on Wed., Nov. 26, critically wounding both before being shot and taken into custody, according to officials.
The shooting, described by local and federal leaders as a targeted attack, unfolded in a busy stretch of downtown at the edge of 17th and I streets NW during afternoon patrols. The case quickly drew national attention because the victims were on federal duty in the capital and the suspect allegedly traveled across the country before the attack. Federal agents and D.C. police are now examining the suspect’s movements, digital devices and contacts in multiple states while hospital officials treat the wounded service members, whose names were released by local outlets as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Both remained in critical condition Thursday.
Police and witnesses said gunfire erupted at about 2:15 p.m. as the soldiers conducted high-visibility patrols assigned to the capital. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said Lakanwal “opened fire without provocation, ambush style,” striking one soldier, then leaning over to fire again before shooting the second several times. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “a targeted shooting,” adding that the city’s camera network and witness accounts gave detectives a detailed timeline. The suspect was wounded amid returning fire and subdued by Guard members, officials said. Streets near Farragut Square were sealed for hours as bomb technicians and crime scene teams processed shell casings, mapped bullet paths and collected surveillance footage from storefronts and transit stops.
At an afternoon briefing, FBI Director Kash Patel said agents are pursuing a coast-to-coast investigation into motive and potential contacts. Authorities executed a search warrant at a residence in Bellingham, Wash., and seized multiple electronic devices, Patel said, while another team interviewed individuals in San Diego. Officials said the weapon recovered at the scene was a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. The CIA confirmed the suspect previously worked with a U.S. partner force in Kandahar before the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, according to Director John Ratcliffe. Law enforcement officials said the suspect entered the United States in 2021 under a federal program for Afghan allies, applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April 2025. Investigators have not announced a motive and said it remains unknown whether anyone else helped plan the attack.
The Guard soldiers—deployed from West Virginia as part of a federal security mission that has placed more than 2,000 Guard personnel in the district—were among teams assigned to “high-visibility” patrols downtown. The attack occurred within blocks of the White House complex and near two downtown Metro entrances, an area typically crowded with commuters and lunchtime workers. The violent burst stoked renewed debate over the legality and scope of the ongoing deployment and whether the mission has made troops conspicuous targets. City leaders emphasized cooperation with federal agencies while cautioning against assigning blame to entire communities; veterans groups urged restraint as the facts are gathered.
Prosecutors said Lakanwal will be charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and with criminal possession of a weapon. Pirro said charges could be upgraded to first-degree murder if either victim dies. Officials said the case will proceed in D.C. Superior Court, with an initial appearance expected soon after doctors clear the suspect for transport from the hospital. Patel said the FBI is treating the matter as an attack on federal officers, which allows additional investigative authorities. Detectives are reviewing phone records, license-plate reader hits and hotel receipts to establish a minute-by-minute timeline from Washington state to the capital. Briefings are scheduled as major developments occur; agencies did not release a hearing date Thursday.
Downtown workers described a chaotic scene as sirens converged and officers sprinted toward the corner. “People started running and ducking behind cars,” said Carlos Medina, who was walking to the Metro when shots sounded “like metal on metal.” A restaurant manager said her staff locked the doors as ambulances arrived and guided diners to a back hallway. Near sunset, police tape fluttered around bus shelters and a row of parked vehicles while Guard members stood watch, their uniforms lit by cruiser strobes. Bowser thanked bystanders who called 911 and provided video to investigators. “We will get answers,” she said.
As of Thursday afternoon, both soldiers remained in critical condition at area hospitals, according to officials. Police kept portions of 17th Street closed into the evening while federal agents continued canvassing buildings. Authorities said the next update would follow once laboratory tests on ballistics and the suspect’s devices are complete and a court date is set.
Author note: Last updated November 27, 2025.