- Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national and former CIA-affiliated operative, faces upgraded charges for the ambush killing of National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe near the White House.
- Federal authorities, including the FBI, classify the attack as terrorism, with prosecutors pursuing the death penalty. Initial charges were elevated to first-degree murder after Beckstrom's death.
- The attack reignited debate over U.S. refugee vetting, as Lakanwal entered under Biden's Operation Allies Welcome and was granted asylum in 2025. Trump announced sweeping immigration restrictions, including halting Afghan refugee admissions.
- Critics highlight gaps in Afghan refugee screening, tying the incident to Biden's chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. The case fuels Trump's hardline immigration agenda, with USCIS freezing Afghan applications pending review.
- The shooting exposes systemic failures in national security and refugee resettlement, deepening political divisions over border policies and their deadly consequences.
The suspect accused of gunning down two National Guard members near the White House will now face first-degree murder charges following the death of 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced Friday, Nov. 28.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the war in Afghanistan, is accused of ambushing Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, near the Farragut West Metro Station on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 26. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.
"We still have hope. He's still in critical condition," Pirro said. "We are doing everything we can to assist his family and to make sure that they have everything they need during this difficult time for them."
BrightU.AI's Enoch explains that first-degree murder refers to the deliberate and premeditated killing of another human being with malice aforethought. It is the most serious form of homicide and is typically punished more severely than other types of murder or manslaughter.
Initially, Lakanwal faced charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and firearm possession during a violent crime. However, Pirro confirmed the upgrade to first-degree murder following Beckstrom's death, stating, "There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree."
"We are hoping that the more information we can get and the more investigations going on … the more we will find out about what actually happened," Pirro added.
Federal authorities, including Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have labeled the attack an act of terrorism. Bondi has stated that prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
President Donald Trump condemned the attack, calling it "a crime against our entire nation … a crime against humanity." During a Thanksgiving call with service members, he praised Beckstrom as "an incredible person, outstanding in every single way."
Immigration fallout and political backlash
The incident has reignited fierce debate over U.S. immigration policies, particularly regarding Afghan refugees admitted under former President Joe Biden's Operation Allies Welcome. Lakanwal reportedly entered the U.S. in 2021 and was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration.
Trump seized on the tragedy to announce sweeping immigration restrictions, vowing to:
- Pause all migration from "Third World countries"
- Terminate millions of "Biden illegal admissions"
- Remove individuals deemed "not a net asset" to the United States
"This program let in thousands of unvetted Afghan nationals, including terrorists, into our country," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated. Meanwhile, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has since halted all Afghan immigration applications pending a security review.
Lakanwal had worked alongside U.S. forces in Kandahar as part of a CIA-affiliated partner unit, according to CIA Director John Ratcliffe. However, critics argue that gaps in vetting allowed dangerous individuals into the country. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey ordered flags flown at half-staff in Beckstrom's honor, describing the slain soldiers as "the very best of our state."
Meanwhile, law enforcement continues its investigation, executing search warrants and gathering evidence. Pirro emphasized that authorities are working around the clock, stating, "The individual who did this will pay the ultimate price."
The shooting has intensified scrutiny over:
- National security failures in Afghan refugee resettlement
- The Biden administration's withdrawal from Afghanistan
- Trump's hardline immigration stance, now gaining renewed momentum
As Wolfe fights for his life and Beckstrom is mourned, the case underscores deepening divisions over America's border policies – and the deadly consequences when they fail.
Watch this clip about a federal government insider revealing that suspected and known terrorists walk freely in the United States following the Biden administration's pullout in Afghanistan.
This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.
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