In a dramatic and somber announcement, President Donald J. Trump confirmed that a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, Sarah Beckstrom, lost her life after a brazen ambush near the White House on November 26, 2025. The attack also left another guardsman critically wounded.
According to law enforcement authorities, the suspected shooter — identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal — opened fire at the guards near Farragut West metro station in downtown Washington, D.C. using a .357 Magnum revolver. The assault occurred during what officials describe as a deployment of federal forces in support of local security operations.
Beckstrom and her fellow guard were part of a unit assigned to reinforce security around the capital. After the first round of fire, responding guards returned fire and subdued the suspect, who was seriously wounded and taken into custody. The incident has been classified as a targeted, ambush-style shooting, prompting nationwide concern.
During his address to the press, Trump labeled the episode a “terrorist attack,” sharply criticizing immigration policies under the previous administration. He argued that the suspect should never have been allowed into the country and pledged immediate measures: a review of asylum and refugee approvals, a pause on further Afghan immigration, and stricter vetting procedures.
As part of the response, the President ordered an additional 500 troops from the National Guard to be deployed to Washington, D.C., reinforcing security in the nation’s capital amid growing fears. Officials from multiple federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have opened an investigation, treating the shooting as a possible act of terrorism.
The tragic death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom has reignited heated debate over national security, immigration policy, and the role of the Guard in protecting civilian centers. As the investigation unfolds and policymakers respond, Washington is bracing for heightened tension and intensified scrutiny of its immigration and security protocols.
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