A chilling ambush unfolded in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, leaving two West Virginia National Guard soldiers fighting for their lives. The attack, described by authorities as a deliberate act of violence, has triggered a full-scale terrorism investigation by the FBI.
The alleged gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who previously assisted U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan, is now in custody. He arrived in the United States following the American withdrawal and the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, a detail investigators are meticulously examining.
Lakanwal faces charges of assault with intent to kill, but the situation remains gravely serious. Should either of the soldiers succumb to their injuries, the charges will escalate to first-degree murder, a stark warning delivered by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
Investigators believe Lakanwal traveled across the country, from Washington state to the nation’s capital, specifically to carry out this attack. The FBI is now working to uncover any potential network of associates, both within the U.S. and in Afghanistan, who may have been involved.
The soldiers were targeted near a subway stop, struck by gunfire from a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver. The attack was swift and unprovoked, an ambush that left fellow soldiers scrambling to subdue the assailant at the scene.
Adding a heartbreaking layer to the tragedy, one of the wounded soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, had volunteered for duty on Thanksgiving Day. Her selfless act allowed others to spend the holiday with their families, a sacrifice now overshadowed by unimaginable pain.
Beckstrom sustained gunshot wounds to the head and chest, while the other wounded guardsman, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is also in critical condition. Both had been sworn in to their positions less than 24 hours before the attack, their nascent service brutally interrupted.
The weight of the situation is immense, as families now find themselves in hospital waiting rooms, praying for a miracle. The soldiers underwent emergency surgery, but their condition remains precarious, a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the suddenness of violence.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the scope of the investigation, characterizing it as a “broad-based international terrorism investigation.” Every avenue is being explored to understand the motive behind this attack and prevent future tragedies.
