U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has stated that the individual suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was radicalized after his arrival in the United States.
Details of the Attack and Investigation
The shooting occurred on a street just blocks from the White House on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The suspect, identified by federal authorities as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, was subdued and taken into custody at the scene.
In a televised interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, November 30, Secretary Noem addressed the motive. "We believe he was radicalized since he's been here in this country," she stated. "We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we're going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him." She confirmed that investigators are actively collecting information and have received some cooperation from his contacts and family members.
The Victims and Aftermath
The attack resulted in the death of one service member and the serious injury of another. U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, November 27. The wounded guardsman, U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized.
Authorities are treating the case as an act of terror, though a specific motive has not been publicly detailed. Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, announced that Lakanwal will face charges including first-degree murder. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated that prosecutors will seek the death penalty.
Political Fallout and Suspect's Background
The incident has triggered significant political repercussions. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials have criticized the prior administration's immigration policies, linking them to the attack. In response, they have pushed for stricter immigration controls, including a halt to reviews of Afghan immigration proceedings and a review of Afghans already settled in the U.S.
This raises the possibility that settlement rights for Afghan allies who assisted U.S. forces could be curtailed. Lakanwal himself had worked with the U.S. military and the CIA in Afghanistan before his arrival in the United States in 2021. He lived in Washington state with his wife and children, and law enforcement alleges he drove across the country to the nation's capital to carry out the attack. The investigation has included searches in both Washington state and California.
