Washington: 20-year-old National Guard member dies – the shooter’s asylum software was not accepted till April 2025 | EUROtoday

In a primary dwell deal with for the reason that assault on two National Guardsmen in Washington, US President Donald Trump mentioned: “Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the National Guardsmen we are talking about, highly respected, young, who began her service in June 2023 and was a great person in every way, has just passed away. She is no longer with us.” The different National Guardsman who was shot, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, continues to be combating for his life, Trump mentioned. The president mentioned the alleged attacker was in severe situation.

Trump had beforehand described the incident as an act of terrorism and introduced political penalties. FBI counterterrorism investigators started looking for the motive of the alleged perpetrator, who authorities mentioned was an Afghan migrant. Trump introduced he would “re-vet” all Afghans who got here to the US throughout Joe Biden’s presidency. As a consequence, the US immigration company USCIS introduced that the processing of all immigration proceedings for Afghan nationals had been suspended indefinitely. Vice President JD Vance mentioned the act justified the federal government’s harder immigration coverage.

The incident shocked the USA simply earlier than the vital Thanksgiving vacation. Beckstrom had volunteered to work over the vacation. The crime occurred round 2:15 p.m. close to Farragut Square, a well-liked lunch spot for workplace employees not removed from the White House. Officials spoke of an ambush assault. Metropolitan Police Department Deputy Chief Jeffery Carroll informed US Mirror that the gunman appeared close to the Farragut West Metro station. He opened hearth with a .357 Smith & Wesson Magnum.

After two folks had been gunned down, National Guard members subdued the suspected attacker after he was additionally shot. “They heard the shots and were actually able to intervene and subdue the suspect,” Carroll mentioned.

Authorities identify the suspected shooter as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old who entered the United States from Afghanistan in 2021 and utilized for asylum in 2024. His software was accepted in April 2025, throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, three legislation enforcement officers confirmed to ABC News. However, it’s mentioned to have been an initiative of the Biden authorities that accelerated the processing of asylum functions from Afghan nationals after the withdrawal of US troops from the nation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi introduced that she might search the loss of life penalty if it seems that the act was certainly an act of terrorism. And if he survives his gunshot wounds.