WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of the shooting in D.C. preceding the Thanksgiving holiday that left one National Guard soldier dead and another in critical condition, local reports say officers from DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will be temporarily patrolling alongside the remaining National Guard soldiers in the nation’s capital.
On November 26, two soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard were shot while patrolling near the White House in what officials have described as an ambush-style attack. One of the soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, succumbed to her injuries, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe was last reported as being in critical condition.
A suspect in the case, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody following the fatal shooting and is currently facing first-degree murder charges.
According to officials, Lakanwal was among the Afghans brought into the country under a Biden-era program, Operation Allies Welcome, intended to "resettle Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war in their homeland.”
In light of the recent shooting, which President Donald Trump has characterized as a “terrorist attack,” sources within the MPD have reportedly confirmed to local media outlet WUSA9 that MPD officers will be temporarily patrolling alongside the remaining National Guard soldiers operating in the area. These sources also reportedly noted that additional law enforcement agencies could be involved in this endeavor, potentially including the U.S. Park Police and Metro Transit Police.
Following the shooting, President Trump, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have called for an additional 500 National Guard soldiers to be deployed to the D.C. area during a press briefing on November 26.
The president noted how D.C. had seen “record-setting low crime” since the National Guard deployment during the press briefing, while adding, “Until yesterday, we literally had no incidents for many months. It was the safest place imaginable.”
Several federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are engaged in a joint investigation into the fatal shooting. Lakanwal was reportedly hit with return fire during the incident and remains hospitalized in unknown condition. Officials say there are no other known suspects connected to the shooting at this time.
On November 26, two soldiers from the West Virginia National Guard were shot while patrolling near the White House in what officials have described as an ambush-style attack. One of the soldiers, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, succumbed to her injuries, while 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe was last reported as being in critical condition.
A suspect in the case, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was taken into custody following the fatal shooting and is currently facing first-degree murder charges.
According to officials, Lakanwal was among the Afghans brought into the country under a Biden-era program, Operation Allies Welcome, intended to "resettle Afghans who helped the U.S. during the war in their homeland.”
In light of the recent shooting, which President Donald Trump has characterized as a “terrorist attack,” sources within the MPD have reportedly confirmed to local media outlet WUSA9 that MPD officers will be temporarily patrolling alongside the remaining National Guard soldiers operating in the area. These sources also reportedly noted that additional law enforcement agencies could be involved in this endeavor, potentially including the U.S. Park Police and Metro Transit Police.
Following the shooting, President Trump, as well as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have called for an additional 500 National Guard soldiers to be deployed to the D.C. area during a press briefing on November 26.
The president noted how D.C. had seen “record-setting low crime” since the National Guard deployment during the press briefing, while adding, “Until yesterday, we literally had no incidents for many months. It was the safest place imaginable.”
Several federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are engaged in a joint investigation into the fatal shooting. Lakanwal was reportedly hit with return fire during the incident and remains hospitalized in unknown condition. Officials say there are no other known suspects connected to the shooting at this time.
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