Washington, D.C., November 30, 2025
Two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C., on November 26 in an ambush-style attack. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries the following day, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically wounded but survived. The attacker, an Afghan national, was apprehended after being injured during the confrontation.
Details of the Attack
The shooting occurred just two blocks northwest of the White House as the guardsmen were on duty as part of the federal law enforcement and National Guard presence in the city. The assailant fired between 10 and 15 rounds starting with a .357 Magnum revolver. During the attack, he also used one of Beckstrom’s firearms against the soldiers. Both guardsmen sustained gunshot wounds to the head.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was seriously injured in the encounter, having been shot four times and stabbed with a pocket knife by one of the guardsmen, but remained in stable condition when taken into custody.
Victims and Deployment
The two victims, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, were members of the West Virginia National Guard. They had been deployed to Washington, D.C., since August 2025 as part of the “Safe and Beautiful” mission, which integrates National Guard service members into federal law enforcement and security roles in the capital.
Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on November 27, while Wolfe underwent surgery and was hospitalized in critical condition but survived the attack.
Context and Implications
This incident underscores the tangible risks faced by National Guard troops deployed as force multipliers in federal security operations within metropolitan areas, especially in sensitive locations such as Washington, D.C. The ambush-style nature of the attack highlights emerging security challenges in guarding key federal sites and personnel.
As authorities continue to investigate the motives and circumstances surrounding the shooting, the event serves as a sober reminder of the dangers inherent to deployments aimed at maintaining public safety and national security in the capital.