Afghan National Charged in D.C. National Guard Shooting; Vetting Process Under Scrutiny
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces charges for critically wounding two National Guard members in D.C. The incident sparks debate over Afghan national vetting.
Overview
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, drove cross-country to Washington, D.C., ambushing and critically wounding National Guardsmen Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe near the Farragut West Metro station.
Lakanwal, armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, was apprehended after exchanging gunfire with another Guardsman. He now faces charges including assault with intent to kill while armed.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national, served in an elite NDS-03 counterterrorism unit with CIA ties. He entered the U.S. in 2021 via Operation Allies Welcome, receiving asylum in April 2025.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, though authorities currently have no determined motive for the targeted attack.
The D.C. shooting sparked criticism of Afghan national vetting from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel. President Trump ordered more Guard members and halted Afghan immigration.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the security concerns and criticisms surrounding the "Operation Allies Welcome" program in the wake of the National Guard shooting. They highlight Republican lawmakers' warnings about vetting failures and the Trump administration's swift policy responses, while presenting the program's defenders as reacting to these established concerns.
Sources (66)
Center (20)
FAQ
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national who served in an elite NDS-03 counterterrorism unit with CIA ties before entering the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome in 2021 and receiving asylum in April 2025.
Lakanwal ambushed and critically wounded two National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, near the Farragut West Metro station in Washington, D.C., using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, and engaged in a gunfire exchange with another Guardsman before being apprehended.
He faces charges including assault with intent to kill while armed following the shooting incident.
The shooting has sparked criticism of the vetting process for Afghan nationals, with figures like U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel voicing concerns, leading President Trump to order an increase in National Guard presence and a halt to Afghan immigration.
The FBI is investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism, but authorities have not yet determined a clear motive for the targeted attack.
History
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