By Gao Yun
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, two West Virginia National Guardsmen on duty in Washington, D.C. were shot just blocks from the White House. The city’s mayor described the incident as a targeted attack.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Mayor Muriel Bowser said both soldiers were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Attacks on National Guard personnel are rare, and recent deployments in D.C. and other cities have already stirred controversy and legal challenges.
Gunman opened fire from around the corner
Jeffrey Carroll, Executive Assistant Chief of D.C. Police, said investigators still do not know the motive.
“Based on video footage reviewed by investigators, the assailant appeared from around the corner and immediately opened fire at the National Guard members,” he said.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Mayor Bowser confirmed: “This was a targeted shooting.”
According to two law enforcement officials and one informed source, the suspect is believed to be an Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 and had been living in Washington state.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, though further background verification is still ongoing.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey initially stated that both Guard members had died, but later retracted the claim, saying his office was receiving “conflicting information about their condition.”
As of Nov. 27, both Guardsmen, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remain in critical condition in hospital.
A law enforcement official who requested anonymity told AP that the detained suspect was also shot, though his injuries were not life-threatening.
Following the shooting, the Trump administration swiftly ordered an additional 500 National Guard members to Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said this came at the direct request of President Trump.
According to newly released government data, around 2,200 soldiers are currently assigned to the joint task force overseeing operations in Washington.
Guardsmen shooting occurred northwest of the White House
Police said the shooting took place near a Metro station about two blocks northwest of the White House. Carroll stated that upon hearing gunfire, nearby Guardsmen rushed to the scene and subdued the gunman after he was shot.
Carroll added that current evidence suggests a lone attacker, and it remains unclear whether the suspect was shot by the Guardsmen or responding officers.
“At present, we have no other suspects,” he said.
Another law enforcement source told AP anonymously that at least one Guardsman exchanged fire with the shooter.
Video from the scene quickly surfaced on social media, showing first responders performing CPR on one soldier and treating another Guardsman lying on a sidewalk strewn with shattered glass.
Witness Stacy Walters said she was sitting in her car when she heard two gunshots, then saw people fleeing. Almost immediately, law enforcement vehicles surrounded the area.
“With such nice weather today, who would do something like this?” she said. “Everyone’s supposed to be preparing for the holidays.”
Another witness, Emma McDonald, said that shortly after the gunfire, she exited a Metro station and took shelter in a nearby café along with others. She told AP that minutes later, she saw paramedics pushing a stretcher with a Guardsman on it — his head covered in blood.
More than 300 West Virginia National Guard members were deployed to Washington in August; last week, about 160 volunteered to extend their assignment through the end of the year, while the rest returned to West Virginia earlier this month.
After the attack, large areas were cordoned off with yellow tape. Fire engines and police cruisers flashed lights continuously, and helicopters circled overhead. Secret Service and ATF personnel were on scene, with National Guard troops securing the perimeter. At least one helicopter landed near the National Mall.
Trump and other leaders respond
Trump, spending Thanksgiving in Florida, issued a strong statement on social media condemning the attack. He referred to the gunman as a “beast” and warned that the attacker “will pay a very heavy price.”
At Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Vice President JD Vance urged “all people of faith” to pray for the two Guardsmen. He also noted that many details — including the shooter’s motive — remain unclear.
“This is a sobering reminder,” Vance said in his Thanksgiving remarks to troops, “that whether active-duty, reserve, or National Guard — our soldiers are the sword and shield of the United States of America.”
Former President Barack Obama also condemned the violence, according to CNN.
“Violence has no place in America,” he posted on X. “Michelle and I are praying for the service members shot in Washington today, and for their families, who are facing a difficult holiday under heartbreaking circumstances.”
