U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has charged Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, with multiple counts after the Washington, DC, shooting that left two National Guard members critically wounded; the accused allegedly traveled from Washington state and overstayed a visa after arriving in 2021.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced formal charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, following the November 26 attack in Washington, DC. Authorities say Lakanwal overstayed his visa after arriving in 2021 and is accused of shooting two National Guard members near a busy metro entrance. The two victims remain in critical condition after surgery and are publicly identified by officials.
Ms. Pirro said Lakanwal will face three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and a count for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. She stated he faces 15 years on the assault with intent to kill counts and warned the charges could be upgraded depending on the victims’ recovery. “Make no mistake. If they do not [survive], that will certainly be the charge: murder in the first degree,” she added.
The two Guardsmen shot were identified as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, both reported to be in critical condition after surgery. Officials described the shooting as occurring near the Farragut West metro station entrance, just a few blocks from the White House, at around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The location and timing amplified the alarm, coming at a busy time close to the holidays.
Local witnesses described panic and confusion as gunfire rang out. One bystander, Stacey Walters, recounted the moment in vivid terms: “I wanted to cry,” she said. “I’ve never been so close to something like that, let alone at the holidays.”
Investigators say Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the D.C. area to carry out the attack, a detail Pirro emphasized at her press conference. That interstate travel has prompted questions about how someone who arrived in 2021 and overstayed a visa was able to move across the country and reach the capital. Attorney General Pam Bondi noted the suspect could face up to life in prison depending on the final charges and outcomes.
Officials disclosed that Lakanwal had worked alongside U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan before the fall of Kabul, a fact that complicates the narrative and raises difficult questions for military and immigration screening. His arrival in 2021 places him among a cohort of individuals who entered the country as circumstances in Afghanistan changed. Those details are now part of the probe into motive and background.
Federal prosecutors framed the case as a straightforward application of criminal law: armed assault and weapons charges that carry heavy penalties. Pirro stressed accountability and legal consequences while warning that the charge sheet could change if the medical conditions of the victims worsen. That measured legal posture keeps focus on evidence and criminal procedure as the investigation continues.
For Washington and the broader public, the attack triggered a familiar political debate about border control, vetting, and enforcement. From a Republican viewpoint, the case underlines gaps in immigration oversight and the risks that can follow when people overstaying visas remain unresolved. Lawmakers and commentators from across the aisle are already asking how to prevent similar incidents.
Police continue to piece together the timeline, travel route, and motive, while prosecutors prepare for potential enhancements to the charges. The judicial process will unfold in public, with demands for transparency from elected officials and the families involved. In the meantime, the two Guardsmen remain the central human concern in a case that has reverberated through the capital.
As the legal team files the formal indictment, prosecutors must balance swift action with careful evidence gathering to secure convictions and, if warranted, pursue the most serious charges. The country is watching both for justice and for lessons about policies that may affect public safety. Officials have urged patience as investigators follow leads and collect forensic and witness evidence.
The incident has already spurred political comment and calls for policy fixes from several quarters, with law enforcement stressing the need to let the process run its course. Families of service members and the public want answers, and authorities say they are working to deliver them through the courts. The coming weeks will determine whether the case escalates to murder charges or remains focused on the current counts of assault and weapons violations.
