On Nov. 26, 2025, two West Virginia National Guard members were critically wounded in a downtown Washington, D.C., shooting near the White House; officials say both remain in critical condition and a 29-year-old suspect has been charged. Authorities identified the victims as 20-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, both recently deployed to the D.C. task force. Law enforcement said the two were sworn in or deputized less than 24 hours before the attack and were armed when shot. Prosecutors and military officials have described the episode as an isolated act under active investigation.
Key takeaways
- Two Guardsmen, Sarah Beckstrom (20) and Andrew Wolfe (24), were shot near the White House on Nov. 26, 2025; both are in critical condition as of the latest briefings.
- The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was arrested and charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and criminal possession of a weapon; prosecutors say murder charges are possible.
- The victims had recently joined the D.C. task force: Wolfe entered service in Feb. 2019; Beckstrom in June 2023; both were deputized within 24 hours of the shooting.
- Metropolitan Police officials reported the Guardsmen were armed at the time of the incident; the shooting occurred in downtown D.C. near the White House perimeter.
- There are currently 2,188 National Guard personnel assigned to Washington, D.C.; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said President Trump asked to send an additional 500 Guardsmen after the attack.
- Investigators say the suspect reportedly traveled from Washington state to D.C., but motive and target selection remain under active inquiry.
Background
The National Guard presence in Washington expanded after a federalized deployment in August 2025; the force was assigned to support patrols and security operations in response to federal directives. West Virginia National Guard personnel were among those mobilized, and the state contingent contributed members to a joint D.C. task force established earlier this fall. The two wounded Guardsmen joined that task force when it began its mission in early August, according to the West Virginia National Guard.
National Guard status and authorities vary by activation and deputization. In this instance officials said the Guardsmen were sworn in or deputized to maintain their legal status to conduct presence patrols in the district. The deployment drew heightened attention because the capital’s federal takeover placed thousands of uniformed Guard members in public-facing patrol roles across downtown D.C.
Main event
Police say the shooting occurred on Nov. 26 in downtown Washington, D.C., near the White House perimeter. Witnesses and law enforcement accounts placed the two Guardsmen at the scene; both were shot and transported to medical facilities in critical condition. A rapid response by local and federal investigators led to the arrest of 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was taken into custody without a prolonged manhunt described by officials.
Prosecutors in the District of Columbia filed charges against Lakanwal that include three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and criminal possession of a weapon; Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for D.C., indicated first-degree murder charges could be added depending on victims’ outcomes. Law enforcement has said the suspect allegedly drove from Washington state to Washington, D.C., but investigators continue to reconstruct his movements and motive.
Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, commander of the D.C. National Guard, attended a press briefing and described the emotional toll on the families. Officials also confirmed that the two Guardsmen had been sworn in or deputized less than 24 hours before being shot and that they were carrying weapons at the time of the attack, a detail noted by the Metropolitan Police Department’s executive assistant chief.
Analysis & implications
The shooting highlights operational and legal complexities when National Guard troops operate in populated urban settings under federalized orders. Deputization and brief swearing-in periods are administrative steps intended to clarify authority and liability for guardsmen conducting patrols; the incident will likely prompt reviews of procedures for rapidly deploying personnel into public patrol roles. Legal teams on both the prosecution and defense sides will monitor how quick deputizations affect jurisdictional responsibilities and evidentiary issues.
Politically, the attack arrives amid public scrutiny of the broader federal takeover of the District and the scale of the Guard presence. Requests to increase troop levels, including the reported ask for 500 additional Guardsmen, may become a point of debate among city officials, federal authorities and lawmakers assessing risks and costs. Public safety discussions will need to weigh visible deterrence against the operational challenges of sustaining large, short-notice security deployments.
For the families and the Guard community, the immediate implication is a focus on medical care, benefit access and support services. Both victims are young service members with distinct service records; Wolfe enlisted in February 2019 and had earned multiple service medals, while Beckstrom joined in June 2023 and served in a military police company. Long-term care needs, potential upgrades to charges if victims’ conditions change, and compensation pathways will follow established military and civilian processes.
Comparison & data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Guardsmen currently assigned to D.C. | 2,188 |
| Additional Guardsmen requested | 500 |
| Victim: Andrew Wolfe | Age 24, service entry Feb. 2019 |
| Victim: Sarah Beckstrom | Age 20, service entry June 2023 |
The table above summarizes force levels and the service records of the wounded guardsmen. Placing the shooting in the operational context shows it occurred during a period of heightened National Guard visibility in the capital; policymakers will likely use these figures when debating force posture and rules of engagement for presence patrols.
Reactions & quotes
Officials offered brief, pointed statements at a Nov. 27 press conference conveying both grief and prosecutorial resolve.
Today two families are shattered and destroyed as a result of one man’s actions, and our office will pursue justice accordingly.
Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Pirro framed the case in legal terms while acknowledging the personal toll. Prosecutors emphasized that charges could be elevated pending the victims’ medical outcomes and ongoing evidence collection.
All of their lives have been changed forever because one person decided to do this horrific and evil thing.
Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, D.C. National Guard
Blanchard focused on the human and institutional impact, noting the Guard’s commitment to supporting families and reviewing procedures. Defense officials also confirmed that the president requested additional Guard personnel; the Department of Defense and local law enforcement said they will coordinate any changes in deployment.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the suspect specifically targeted the two Guardsmen rather than selecting a location at random remains under investigation.
- Full motive for the alleged attack has not been publicly established; investigators continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
- Potential upgrade to first-degree murder charges depends on victims’ medical outcomes and has not yet been filed.
Bottom line
The Nov. 26 shooting that critically injured two West Virginia National Guard members raises immediate legal, operational and political questions. Authorities have detained a suspect and filed assault charges, but key details about motive and intent remain unresolved as investigators piece together the suspect’s movements and reasons.
In the short term, attention will center on medical care for the victims, support for their families and the prosecutor’s decision on whether to seek murder charges. Longer term, the incident will likely trigger reviews of rapid-deployment procedures, deputization practices and the balance between visible security forces and community safety in the nation’s capital.
Sources
- ABC News (news report)
- West Virginia National Guard (official state National Guard statements)
- U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (official/prosecutorial statements)
- U.S. Department of Defense (official statements on Guard deployments)
- Metropolitan Police Department of DC (local law enforcement information)