By Gao Yun
Newly released investigative files reveal disturbing details about last week’s shooting near the White House that targeted two National Guard members on duty. Both service members were shot in the head. One died from her wounds, while the other remains in critical condition. The suspect, now facing a series of felony charges, appeared remotely from his hospital bed for his first court hearing.
An eight-page complaint filed by Metropolitan Police Detective Joshua Branson identifies the victims as U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Both were in full uniform and patrolling near 17th and I Streets—just a few blocks from the White House—when the attack occurred.
Surveillance images taken shortly after the gunfire show the suspected shooter bending down beside the two fallen service members after allegedly firing a revolver at them.
Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was rushed to a hospital and remains “fighting for his life.” Beckstrom, 20, of Summersville, West Virginia, died on Nov. 27, roughly a day after she was shot.
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The accused gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was also hit during the exchange of fire. He attended the proceeding virtually from his hospital bed in D.C. Superior Court on Dec. 2. Court records show he has been charged with murder, assault with intent to kill, and multiple firearm offenses connected to a violent crime.
CNN reports that Lakanwal entered a not-guilty plea. His attorney, Terrence Austin, argued for his release, citing delays by the Justice Department in bringing charges and pointing out that Lakanwal had no criminal record. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14.
Court filings describe the moments leading up to the attack. Surveillance video shows Lakanwal lingering outside the Farragut West Metro station for about a minute, repeatedly glancing west toward 17th Street before running headlong toward the area where the shooting occurred.
At roughly 2:13 p.m., two Army National Guard majors were speaking with Beckstrom and Wolfe when shots rang out. A witness told police he saw the two service members collapse as the gunman opened fire while shouting “Allahu Akbar!”
Both victims were “unresponsive and in critical condition with head wounds” by the time medical teams reached them, the complaint states.
The same witness drew his service weapon and exchanged fire with the suspect, who fell after being struck. The witness told investigators the suspect’s handgun appeared to be empty, and another bystander wrestled him to the ground as he attempted to reload.
Two witnesses and uniformed Secret Service officers then subdued and detained the suspect. According to court filings, Beckstrom died the following day at the hospital.
An autopsy conducted by Dr. Kristinza Giese of the D.C. Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Beckstrom was killed by a bullet to the back of the head and ruled her death a homicide.
