What we know about Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, the two victims in Washington shooting
They belong to the West Virginia National Guard, which deployed hundreds of troops to the nation's capital as part of President Donald Trump's crime-fighting mission.
November 27, 2025 10:50 PM IST
First published on: Nov 27, 2025 at 10:21 PM IST
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Injured National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.
US authorities have identified the two National Guard members who were shot by a gunman in Washington, DC, on Wednesday. According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the victims are 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe.
Who is Sarah Beckstrom
Beckstrom is a resident of Webster Springs, West Virginia, located in rural Webster County, approximately 150 miles east of Charleston. She was struck in the chest and head. Beckstrom, who underwent an emergency surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Centre, remains in a critical but stable condition.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street in Washington.
Who is Andrew Wolfe
The second victim, Sgt. Wolfe is a resident of Inwood, West Virginia. Wolfe, who suffered injuries on his torso, has also undergone surgery and remains critical.
They belong to the West Virginia National Guard, which deployed hundreds of troops to the nation’s capital as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting mission that involved taking over the local police department.
National Guard move through the area following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Who is the suspect
An Afghan national who has worked with the US troops in Afghanistan has been charged with the shooting.
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, drove across the country to launch an “ambush-style” attack with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.
The 29-year-old suspect, an Afghan national, entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden administration program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal from the country, officials said. The initiative brought roughly 76,000 people to the US, many of whom had worked alongside US troops and diplomats as interpreters and translators.
The suspect currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro said that “it’s too soon to say” what the suspect’s motives were.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Agents have served a series of search warrants, with Patel calling it a “coast-to-coast investigation.”
According to Pirro, both Beckstrom and Wolfe were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street in Washington.
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Injured National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe. 
