Tragic Shooting of National Guard Members in Washington D.C.

Fri Dec 05 2025 09:24:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Two National Guard members were shot near the White House, resulting in one fatalities and heightened security measures.

On Wednesday in Washington D.C., two members of the National Guard were ambushed while on patrol, resulting in one fatality and another in critical condition. The gunman, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is in custody as investigations unfold. President Trump has pledged to increase troop presence in the capital following the incident, denouncing the attack as a crime against humanity.

Two members of the National Guard were shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday just blocks from the White House in Washington DC.

One died on Thursday while the second remains in a critical condition, US President Donald Trump said. The suspect, an Afghan national, is in custody.

In response to the attack, Trump said he would deploy another 500 troops to the streets of the nation's capital.

What happened in shooting near White House?

Just after 14:00 EST on Wednesday, two members of the National Guard, both from West Virginia, were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown Washington DC.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect came around the corner and immediately started firing, labeling the incident as an ambush.

Muriel Bowser, the mayor of Washington DC, deemed the attack as targeted. The guards were swiftly attended to by law enforcement officers present in the vicinity.

Trump, who was not at the White House at the time, addressed the nation from Mar-a-Lago.

The Department of Homeland Security identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old who had immigrated to the US as part of a programme for Afghans.

He is charged with multiple assaults and will face significant time behind bars if convicted.

The victims of this tragic event have been named: Sarah Beckstrom, 20, tragically lost her life, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. They were hailed for their commitment to protecting the District, especially during the Thanksgiving holiday.