Two National Guardsmen who were critically injured in a shooting in Washington DC have been identified as Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, and Sarah Backstrom, aged 20. President Donald Trump labeled the incident as an “act of terror.” The alleged shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021, has been named as the perpetrator.
In response to the attack, US Citizenship and Immigration Services halted the processing of immigration cases involving Afghan immigrants until further review. The West Virginia National Guard provided more details about the injured members. Sarah Backstrom, who joined the Guard on June 26, 2023, was part of the 863rd Military Police Company, while Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who enlisted on February 5, 2019, belonged to the Force Support Squadron.
Both guards had been deployed in Washington since August as part of their mission. Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressed her intention to seek the death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
Lakanwal, the suspect, was also wounded and hospitalized. His fate will depend on the condition and prognosis of the victims, Andrew Wolfe and Sarah Backstrom. In case of adverse outcomes, Bondi stated that they would pursue the death penalty or a minimum of life imprisonment with terrorism charges.
Andrew Wolfe, one of the Guardsmen shot, is 24 years old and part of the West Virginia National Guard. He remains in critical condition after undergoing surgery post-shooting. The suspected shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, traveled from Bellingham, Washington, to carry out the attack, as confirmed by US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro.
Lakanwal, admitted under Operation Allies Welcome, was granted asylum in April. Authorities revealed his past connections with US forces in Afghanistan. More than 40% of Afghan migrants qualified for Special Immigrant Visas under the program due to their support for or relation to US personnel.
The shooting victims, Sarah Backstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were sworn in just a day before the incident, according to DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Both guards are in critical condition and recovering after undergoing surgery. They were serving in Washington under President Trump’s security directive.
Various officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and California Governor Gavin Newsom, have condemned the violence and expressed solidarity with the injured guards and their families. The investigation continues as authorities work to establish the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting.
