Two National Guard Members Shot Near the White House: What We Know Now

Bassyonni

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Two National Guard Members Shot Near the White House

Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot in a targeted, ambush-style attack in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, a few blocks from the White House near Farragut Square/Farragut West Metro. Officials identified the wounded soldiers as Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Pfc. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Both remained in critical condition Thursday after surgery. A 29-year-old suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody shortly after the attack. Authorities say the individual is believed to have acted alone.

Timeline and location of the DC shooting

Approx. 2:15 p.m. ET, Wed., Nov. 26: A gunman approached two uniformed Guard members on foot near 18th St. NW & I St. NW, close to Farragut West and two blocks northwest of the White House, and opened fire.
Ambush pattern: Investigators described the assault as deliberate, with 10–15 shots reported by witnesses. One Guardsman returned fire.
Immediate response: Nearby law enforcement, federal protective units, and Guard personnel secured the scene; the suspect was detained and the area cordoned off for evidence collection.

Officials emphasized that the attack site was outside the White House complex, and regular security protocols in the federal core triggered visible law-enforcement surges as a precaution.

The victims: West Virginia National Guard

The soldiers—Beckstrom (20) and Wolfe (24)—were in the capital on federal orders. They received on-scene aid and were transported to area trauma centers. As of Thursday morning, officials said both remained critical and under intensive care. The West Virginia governor and state Guard leadership issued statements of support and requested privacy for the families while asking the public to avoid speculation about medical details.

The suspect and early investigative focus

Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, who, based on preliminary information, drove cross-country prior to the attack. Officials said he is an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021, and they are examining possible motives, travel routes, financial activity, and communications. Federal investigators executed search operations at multiple locations tied to the suspect in Washington state and Southern California to recover electronics and documents.

Senior officials stated the case is being handled as a terrorism investigation, while noting that charging decisions may evolve as evidence and medical outcomes are assessed. Prosecutors signaled that counts could escalate if either victim’s condition worsens.

What officials have (and haven’t) said

Intent: Described as a targeted attack on uniformed service members; no credible secondary threat in the area has been disclosed.
Weapon: Investigators recovered a handgun; ballistics and serial-trace work are underway.
Accomplices: No evidence of additional shooters as of Thursday; the working theory is a single-actor attack.
Public risk: Authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public in downtown D.C., but patrol visibility remains high.

Key federal and local leaders briefed the public Thursday morning. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia identified the victims by name; federal investigators outlined the timeline and asked witnesses and nearby businesses to share videos between 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. ET from the Farragut area.

Context: deployment and recent tensions

The Guard members were part of a federal deployment supporting security and logistics in the capital. Officials are reviewing whether the victims’ movements or routine patterns were surveilled in advance. Investigators are also exploring the suspect’s background in Afghanistan, including any prior U.S.-aligned work during the war and potential grievances or radicalization after resettlement under programs connected to Operation Allies Welcome. Authorities cautioned that those lines of inquiry are preliminary.

What’s next in the DC National Guard shooting case

Medical updates: Hospitals will provide status changes to families first; public updates may lag for privacy.
Charges and court appearance: Initial charges are expected to be refined as forensic results return and victim conditions evolve.
Forensics: Ballistics, phone and cloud data, license-plate reads, and CCTV pulls from 18th & I through Farragut Square are in process.
Motive analysis: Digital footprint, travel financing, and any manifesto-style materials are priorities.
Security posture: Expect enhanced patrols and intermittent street closures around Farragut Square, Pennsylvania Ave., and the federal core through the weekend.

How the public can help

Officials asked anyone who was in the Farragut West area on Wednesday between 2:00 and 2:30 p.m. ET to share cell phone video or dashcam footage with investigators. Nearby businesses with outdoor-facing cameras—especially along 18th St. NW, I St. NW, and K St. NW—can provide time-stamped clips to assist with granular timeline mapping.

This is a developing story. Core facts—two West Virginia National Guard members shot and critically wounded; one suspect in custody; terrorism investigation—are established. Details on motive, additional charges, and the victims’ recovery may change as investigators and medical teams release further information.