Two West Virginia National Guard soldiers were ambushed in broad daylight near Farragut Square in downtown Washington, DC. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Summersville, West Virginia, was killed as a result of the shooting, and Army Specialist Andrew Wolfe, 24, also from West Virginia, remains in critical condition in a local hospital.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, around 14:00 local time, near Farragut Square at 17th and I Streets NW, just blocks from the White House. Beckstrom died on the evening of November 27, 2025, from her injuries. The shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national, was arrested at the scene and faces multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
The FBI is leading the investigation and examining possible motives and any ties to Afghanistan or other affiliations. Authorities have described the incident as a targeted attack, and prosecutors have indicated that charges will be pursued, with the death penalty being a consideration for the suspect.
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