Trump Confirms Death Of National Guard Member After Shooting

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USA | Planet & Commerce 

United States President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, one of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot near the White House, has died of her injuries. The second victim, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition after what Trump called a “terrorist attack” carried out by an Afghan national who had arrived in the U.S. under the Afghan evacuation programme following the 2021 Kabul withdrawal. Trump shared the news during a Thanksgiving call with deployed U.S. troops, saying he had just been informed of Beckstrom’s death. He described her as “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way” and noted that the White House had spoken with her grieving parents. Calling the shooter a “savage monster”, the president used the tragedy to intensify his criticism of the Afghan evacuation process and the Biden-era pathways that allowed thousands of Afghan allies to enter the United States. The White House stated that Trump viewed the shooting as a “heinous ambush on American soil” and was personally monitoring investigative developments. Beckstrom’s death has ignited a renewed political firestorm around the legacy of the Afghanistan War, the vetting of refugees and the deployment of U.S. troops within domestic cities.

Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan evacuee who had previously worked in a CIA-backed special operations unit known as the Zero Units in Kandahar. According to sources speaking to The Associated Press, Lakanwal served as a GPS specialist and team leader within the paramilitary force, which played a critical role in frontline battles alongside U.S. personnel during the two-decade-long war. Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration programme initiated after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. His application for asylum was later approved under the Trump administration. The suspect had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children at the time of the shooting. Prosecutors said Lakanwal launched an “ambush-style attack” with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, firing at the two National Guard members assigned to patrol duties near the White House. He was shot and wounded by responding officers; his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro declined to comment on motive but said the charges — which currently include assault with intent to kill and firearm possession — will be upgraded following Beckstrom’s death.

In his remarks, Trump displayed a photo of Afghan evacuees seated on the floor of a U.S. military plane during the 2021 Kabul evacuation, calling the incident evidence of a “completely broken asylum process”. He argued that the mass evacuation “failed to properly vet thousands” and reiterated his administration’s priority of removing individuals deemed security threats. “We have no greater national security priority than ensuring full control over the people entering and remaining in our country,” Trump said. “For the most part, we don’t want them.” Following the shooting, Trump demanded a reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees admitted under the Biden administration, prompting the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, to announce that additional security measures would be implemented for applicants from nineteen high-risk countries. Edlow emphasized that screening would be executed “to the maximum degree possible”, though he did not identify the specific countries involved.

The rare attack on National Guard personnel inside the nation’s capital has intensified debate over the Trump administration’s expanded use of military forces to address domestic crime. In August, Trump federalized the D.C. police force and deployed National Guard troops in several major cities, arguing that spiralling violence required an aggressive federal response. Although the emergency order expired weeks later, roughly 2,200 National Guard members remain stationed in Washington. These troops have been tasked with patrolling transportation hubs, neighbourhoods and major public spaces, in addition to serving at highway checkpoints and even assisting with sanitation duties. After Wednesday’s shooting, the administration ordered an immediate reinforcement of 500 additional Guard troops to Washington, DC. Critics argue that deploying soldiers in civilian areas risks inflaming tensions, while supporters say the increased military presence has become essential in combating violent crime. The shooting has turned the presence of troops into a flashpoint, with lawmakers calling for inquiries into both the security vulnerabilities exposed and the policies that brought Lakanwal into the country.

The shooting has revived painful memories of the Afghanistan conflict and the massive evacuation that followed the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Lakanwal’s background in the Zero Units, a CIA-backed Afghan paramilitary force accused by human rights groups of harsh battlefield tactics, has added another layer of complexity to the case. A family member in Afghanistan, speaking anonymously due to fear of reprisals, said Lakanwal and his brother joined the elite unit to support U.S. forces after the Taliban’s resurgence. Officials familiar with the group say the Zero Units were essential in protecting Kabul International Airport during the frenzied final days of the evacuation. CIA Director John Ratcliffe released a statement saying that Lakanwal’s relationship with the U.S. government “ended shortly after the chaotic evacuation”, distancing the agency from his subsequent actions. Ratcliffe also noted that Afghans who worked with the U.S. military were subjected to “extensive vetting” before being considered for relocation. Still, Trump argued that Lakanwal’s case proved systemic lapses. “He went cuckoo, he went totally nuts,” the president said, claiming the psychological trauma of war, displacement and rapid resettlement contributed to violent outcomes. Afghan advocacy groups countered that the shooter’s history should not be used to stigmatise the tens of thousands of Afghan allies who supported U.S. forces at grave personal risk.

Law enforcement agencies are now examining Lakanwal’s digital records, military history, asylum documents and interpersonal connections to determine whether the attack was premeditated or linked to broader ideological motivations. Authorities said there is no immediate evidence of a coordinated terror plot but warned that investigations are ongoing. Trump reiterated that the tragedy underscores the administration’s push for mass deportation, stronger borders and an overhaul of the asylum process. He warned that the U.S. must now “review every single case from high-risk countries,” framing the shooting as a national-security alarm that cannot be ignored. Beckstrom’s death and Wolfe’s critical condition have shaken the National Guard community nationwide. Tributes have poured in for the young soldiers, with the Pentagon calling the attack “a sobering reminder of the risks faced even on U.S. soil.” As Washington braces for political fallout, officials say the shooting has become a defining moment in the debate over immigration, counterterrorism and the lasting consequences of America’s longest war.