Post by : Rameen Ariff

Washington DC witnessed a tragic incident on Wednesday when two members of the National Guard were shot at close range near Farragut Square. The attack left 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom dead, while her fellow soldier, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is critically injured and fighting for his life. The shooting occurred just after 2:00 PM EST, in the heart of downtown Washington, close to the White House.

The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Reports confirm he was shot four times during his arrest. Lakanwal came to the United States in 2021 under a program designed to provide special immigration protections for Afghans following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Authorities have charged him with assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that her office would seek the death penalty, describing the suspect as a "monster who should not have been in our country."

Sarah Beckstrom, from West Virginia, had enlisted in the Army National Guard in June 2023 and was serving with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade. She had volunteered to work in Washington DC over the Thanksgiving holiday. President Donald Trump confirmed her death during a call with service members and later spoke with her family. Senator Jim Justice expressed his condolences, saying the nation’s prayers are with Beckstrom’s family and Andrew Wolfe during this difficult time.

The suspect, Lakanwal, had a history of working alongside US forces in Afghanistan, serving with the CIA-linked Kandahar Strike Force, known as Scorpion Forces, and later under Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security. He had been responsible for GPS tracking and protecting US forces at Kabul airport during the chaotic evacuation in 2021. He applied for asylum in 2024, which was granted earlier this year.

In response to the incident, the US government announced a review of green cards for individuals from 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services chief, Joseph Edlow, confirmed that President Trump had directed a “full scale, rigorous re-examination” of these green cards to ensure national security. The review comes amid heightened concerns following the attack in Washington DC, highlighting the administration’s focus on security and immigration protocols.

The shooting has raised serious questions about the screening of immigrants entering the US under special programs and has prompted calls for stricter immigration and security measures. National Guard members continue to patrol key areas in Washington DC, safeguarding the capital while authorities investigate the motives and background of the suspect.

#Global News