Afghan Refugee Who Entered U.S. Under Biden’s Chaotic Withdrawal Now Charged with Murder After Shooting 2 National Guard Troops Near White House
The Afghan national accused of gunning down two National Guard service members just steps from the WH is now facing a murder charge — a case that has once again ignited scrutiny over the Biden-era decision to bring thousands of unvetted Afghan refugees into the United States.
According to newly filed court documents, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot last Wednesday while conducting routine patrol duties in Washington, D.C. Both were rushed to nearby hospitals in critical condition.
🚨 Dressed in a black puffer coat with a revolver in hand, a picture has emerged showing the moment an Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal ambushed US National Guards on the streets of Washington DC.
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 28, 2025
One soldier, Sarah Beckstrom, 20, has died from her injuries. Another… pic.twitter.com/9vCNwdCp6s
One day later, current President Donald J. Trump confirmed the devastating news that Beckstrom had died from her wounds, honoring her service and calling the attack a “preventable tragedy tied directly to the failures of the previous administration.”
This week, The Washington Post reported that the accused shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is now formally charged with murder, assault, and multiple firearms offenses.
Breaking news: The man suspected of shooting two National Guard members who were patrolling D.C. last week, killing one of them, has been charged with murder, assault and firearms offenses, according to court documents.https://t.co/A7zP2GmDUK
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 2, 2025
Lakanwal is an Afghan refugee who previously worked with the CIA during the Afghanistan War. He was brought into the United States in 2021 during the Biden administration’s rushed and deadly withdrawal — a mass evacuation effort widely criticized for allowing individuals to enter with little to no vetting.
The charges were filed by the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, according to the Post.
In the days following Beckstrom’s death, the Director of the Army National Guard released a statement paying tribute to the young soldier’s service and sacrifice.
“Sarah served with the West Virginia National Guard’s 863rd Military Police Company,” the statement said.
The director noted that Beckstrom enlisted in June 2023 and “answered every call with professionalism and quiet resolve.”
Her mission in Washington, the statement added, “reflects the very best of our force.”
“Our thoughts are with her loved ones and her unit during this difficult time,” the director said.
The case is now fueling renewed calls for full accountability regarding the security failures tied to the 2021 evacuation — and for the federal government to ensure such oversight lapses never occur again.