US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that one of the two National Guard soldiers who were shot near the White House on Wednesday has died, while the other remains in critical condition, according to Bernama-Xinhua.
Twenty-year-old Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia succumbed to her injuries. The second soldier, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is still undergoing treatment.
The incident took place at around 2.15pm local time near the Farragut Square Metro Station, according to Joint Task Force DC, the unit responsible for overseeing National Guard deployments in the capital.
The alleged attacker has been identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who previously worked alongside the CIA in Afghanistan. He was shot by another service member at the scene and is now in custody. According to AFP, Lakanwal is believed to have driven from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., to carry out the attack.
In a video statement, President Trump referred to the shooting as an “act of terror” and said he was notified of Beckstrom’s death moments before addressing the media. He stated that the incident has prompted his administration to take immediate action on immigration, announcing a suspension of application processing for Afghan nationals and ordering a comprehensive review of green card holders from 19 countries, including Afghanistan.
Joseph Edlow, the director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), said the review is aimed at identifying individuals who, in his words, “do not belong here or add benefit to our country” for possible removal.
The shooting has intensified national concern over security and brought renewed focus to politically sensitive issues, including military deployment within US cities, immigration policies and the broader implications of America’s legacy in Afghanistan.
