WASHINGTON, United States – Federal prosecutors have elevated charges against an Afghan national to first-degree murder following a shooting incident that resulted in the death of one National Guard member and critical injury to another near the White House precincts.
US Attorney for Washington DC, Jeanine Pirro, confirmed the upgraded charges against 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, identified by US media as a former member of the CIA-supported ‘Zero Units’ counterterrorism force. The initial assault charges have been superseded by first-degree murder counts, with prosecutors indicating additional charges will follow.
‘This constitutes premeditated murder through ambush tactics against unsuspecting personnel,’ Pirro stated during an appearance on Fox News, characterizing the Wednesday attack as a calculated assault.
The victims have been identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom from the West Virginia National Guard, who succumbed to her injuries, and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition. Both were deployed in the capital as part of heightened security operations.
According to investigative findings, Lakanwal utilized a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver to open fire on guardsmen during patrol duties. The assailant, previously residing in Washington state, had undertaken a cross-country journey to reach the capital.
The incident has ignited intense political discourse surrounding multiple contentious issues: the domestic deployment of military personnel, immigration policy, and the enduring consequences of US engagement in Afghanistan.
In response to the shooting, former President Donald Trump announced intentions to suspend migration from what he termed ‘third world countries’ and reconsider admissions processed during the Biden administration. This stance has been reinforced by current FBI, CIA, and Homeland Security leadership, who attribute the suspect’s entry to perceived inadequacies in asylum protocols following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Contrasting this perspective, AfghanEvac—an organization facilitating Afghan resettlement—maintains that evacuated individuals underwent exceptionally rigorous security vetting procedures. The organization emphasizes the comprehensive screening protocols applied to Afghan migrants following the military withdrawal.