Two National Guards members who were shot in Washington DC are Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, and Sarah Backstrom, aged 20, according to former President Donald Trump. The alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021, targeted them. Following Trump’s condemnation of the attack, US Citizenship and Immigration Services halted processing immigration cases related to Afghan immigrants until further review.
The West Virginia National Guard released details about the two injured members. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, joined on June 26, 2023, and served with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, West Virginia Army National Guard. Andrew Wolfe, 24, enlisted on February 5, 2019, and was part of the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard. Both had been deployed in Washington DC since August.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated her intent to pursue the death penalty for the alleged shooter. She emphasized the severity of the situation, mentioning the critical condition of Andrew Wolfe and Sarah Backstrom, who underwent surgery after the incident.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect, drove from Bellingham, Washington, to carry out the attack. He is a 29-year-old Afghan admitted to the US under Operation Allies Welcome, receiving asylum earlier this year. Lakanwal had ties to US forces in Afghanistan and collaborated with the CIA in the country.
The two National Guard members, Sarah Backstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were sworn in just a day before the shooting. Both are in critical condition and continue to receive medical care in a local hospital. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed the severity of their injuries and termed the incident a targeted shooting.
Governor Patrick Morrisey initially misreported the condition of the guardsmen but later clarified that conflicting information was being received. The presence of the National Guard in the capital has sparked debates on public policy and legal challenges in recent times, with over 300 West Virginia National Guard members deployed in August.
As the investigation unfolds, updates on the shooting continue to surface, shedding light on the critical situation surrounding the injured National Guard members.