National Guard Member Succumbs to Injuries After Targeted Attack
A female member of the National Guard, identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, has died from her injuries following a targeted shooting in Washington DC. US President Donald Trump confirmed the death, which occurred after an attack carried out by an Afghan national.
Details of the Attack Emerge
The incident took place on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC, roughly two blocks from the White House. According to law enforcement sources, the suspected shooter, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was allegedly lying in wait before he rounded a corner around 2.15pm and immediately opened fire.
Lakanwal reportedly struck Sarah Beckstrom in the chest before shooting her in the head. Following the gunshots, the suspect was shot four times by responding forces before being taken away nearly naked in an ambulance. A law enforcement source confirmed that a suspect in custody had wounds not believed to be life-threatening.
Investigation and Political Fallout
The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terror. In the aftermath, President Trump launched a scathing attack on Joe Biden's presidency and immigration laws, labelling the former president the 'worst in the history of our country' for letting in '20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners'.
Trump stated that the suspected shooter "will pay a very steep price" for his actions. In a significant policy response, US Citizenship and Immigration Services posted on X that processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals has been stopped indefinitely pending a review of security protocols.
An Afghan advocacy group condemned the attack but urged that it should not be used to "isolate or harm" Afghans who have resettled in America.
