In late November 2025, two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House while on patrol. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries the next day. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was critically wounded but survived.
The suspect, an Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody at the scene and now faces a 17-count federal indictment, including charges that make him eligible for the death penalty. Here is what happened, and where the case stands as of mid 2026.
What Happened on November 26
On the afternoon of November 26, 2025, Beckstrom and Wolfe were on patrol with other DC National Guard shooting members near a Metro station a few blocks from the White House. According to court records, a man approached and opened fire, striking both of them in the head at close range. Other Guard members nearby heard the shots, drew their weapons, and subdued the shooter after he was hit by return fire.
Beckstrom was taken to a nearby hospital along with Wolfe. She died from her wound on November 27, Thanksgiving Day. Wolfe underwent surgery and remained in critical condition for a period before beginning a long recovery.
Who Was Sarah Beckstrom
Beckstrom, from Webster Springs, West Virginia, joined the National Guard in June 2023 shortly after graduating high school. She was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company and had been deployed to Washington since August 2025 as part of an ongoing federal deployment in the district. Friends and former coworkers described her as outgoing and quick to laugh, with an interest in criminal justice and a goal of eventually working in federal law enforcement.
She was laid to rest with full military honors in December 2025, and West Virginia’s governor later awarded her the state’s Distinguished Service Medal.
Who Was Andrew Wolfe
Wolfe, an Air Force Staff Sgt. from Martinsburg, West Virginia, was the second Guard member shot that day. He was struck in the head but survived and has been recovering since. In February 2026, he received the Purple Heart during President Trump’s State of the Union address, one of several honors given to those affected by the shooting.
Who Is the Suspect
The man accused of the shooting is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, now 30, an Afghan national. Court records say he worked with US forces, including the CIA, in Afghanistan before the American withdrawal in 2021. He came to the United States that year through a humanitarian program set up for Afghan allies and was later granted asylum, though a separate green card application was still pending at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors say Lakanwal drove from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to the nation’s capital before the attack, carrying a revolver that had previously been reported stolen. Court filings describe searches on his phone for directions to Washington and the White House in the days before the shooting.
The Charges and the Push for the Death Penalty
Lakanwal was initially charged in December 2025 with nine counts, including first-degree murder under DC law, and pleaded not guilty. In June 2026, the Department of Justice issued a new superseding indictment with 17 total counts. Several of the added federal charges, including murder of a person assisting a federal officer, are death penalty eligible under federal law, which the original DC charge was not.
Lakanwal appeared in a wheelchair at his June arraignment and again pleaded not guilty to all counts through his attorney. Federal prosecutors have said their Capital Case Committee is reviewing whether to formally pursue the death penalty, though no final decision or trial date has been announced. His next scheduled court appearance is September 16, 2026.
The Immigration Policy Fallout
The shooting quickly became part of a broader political debate over immigration policy. In the days after the attack, the Trump administration directed US Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause processing for asylum seekers from Afghanistan and several other countries, citing national security concerns. Officials in the administration pointed to Lakanwal’s background as justification for tighter screening of immigration cases tied to the earlier Afghan evacuation program.
That pause has faced legal pushback. In mid 2026, a federal judge in Rhode Island struck down parts of the policy, and the administration has since filed court documents outlining steps it says it is taking to resume processing for affected applicants. The underlying debate, over how much the actions of one individual should shape immigration policy for an entire group of people who came through the same program, remains unresolved and contested among lawmakers, advocacy groups, and legal experts.
Where Things Stand Now
As of mid 2026, Beckstrom’s family and West Virginia officials continue to mark her service through memorials and formal recognitions. Wolfe continues his recovery after receiving national honors for his service that day. Lakanwal remains in federal custody awaiting further court proceedings, with his case now positioned as a potential capital trial. No trial date has been set, and the Justice Department has not confirmed whether it will formally seek execution if he is convicted.
This remains an active federal case, and further developments are expected as hearings continue through the rest of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did both National Guard members die in the DC shooting?
No. Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries the day after the shooting. Andrew Wolfe was critically wounded but survived and has been recovering since.
Is the shooter facing the death penalty?
He faces death penalty-eligible federal charges following a June 2026 superseding indictment, but the Department of Justice has not confirmed it will formally pursue execution. That decision goes through an internal review process.
Who was the suspect in the DC National Guard shooting?
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan before coming to the United States in 2021, was later granted asylum.
When is the next court date in the case?
Lakanwal’s next scheduled hearing is September 16, 2026. A trial date has not yet been set.
