The two National Guard members who were shot in Washington DC on Wednesday have now been identified.
During a press conference held on Thursday, Sarah Backstrom, aged 20, and Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, were revealed as the victims. According to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, both individuals are currently in critical condition. She mentioned that the two soldiers, originally from West Virginia, had recently taken on duty under President Donald Trump’s security reinforcement order for the district. Interestingly, they had been officially sworn in less than a day before the unfortunate incident occurred.
Expressing her admiration for their bravery, Pirro stated, “They responded to the call, volunteered, and risked their lives for strangers – a reality that is increasingly common for law enforcement officers.”
Following the attack that took place around 2:15 pm ET on Wednesday, law enforcement authorities identified the perpetrator as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The Department of Homeland Security revealed that Lakanwal, an Afghan national, had entered the US in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, a program initiated during the Biden administration to safeguard vulnerable Afghans post the US military’s exit from Afghanistan.
On the night of the incident, Trump condemned the violent act, labeling it as a “terrorist act” and a “horrendous assault”. Subsequently, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services declared a halt in the processing of immigration cases for Afghan individuals until further notice.
According to Pirro, Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to Washington DC, where he carried out the shooting on the National Guard using a .357 revolver. He was consequently shot and is currently receiving medical treatment. Pirro mentioned that charges against him will include three counts of armed assault with intent to kill and firearm possession during a violent crime.
In a recent statement on Fox News, US Attorney General Pam Bondi informed that both victims had undergone surgery successfully. Refraining from disclosing their current health status, she stated, “The charges we will file will be based on their recovery prospects. As of now, they have both come out of surgery. I prefer not to comment on their conditions at this moment. Our hopes are for their full recovery, but in the worst-case scenario, the suspect could face life imprisonment on terrorism charges.”
Bondi did not mention Sarah Backstrom by name but referred to her as a “young woman” who had volunteered to serve in the nation’s capital during the Thanksgiving period.
In a Facebook post, a spokesperson from Musselman High School confirmed Wolfe’s identity as one of the victims, expressing the community’s deep sorrow. The post read, “Our Applemen community is deeply saddened to learn that… alumnus, Andrew Wolfe, was one of the National Guardsmen injured in the shooting in Washington, D.C. today.” The spokesperson requested thoughts and prayers for Wolfe, his family, and all those impacted by the incident.
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