Two National Guardsmen, who were shot in Washington DC, have been identified. The victims, Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, and Sarah Backstrom, aged 20, were targeted in what has been labeled an “act of terror” by former President Donald Trump. The alleged shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021, has been named.
Following Trump’s condemnation of the attack, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services halted processing all immigration cases related to Afghan immigrants until further review. The West Virginia National Guard provided more details about the two injured Guard members from yesterday’s shooting.
Sarah Backstrom, who joined the Guard on June 26, 2023, was with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, West Virginia Army National Guard. Andrew Wolfe, a 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt., enlisted on February 5, 2019, and was assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard. Both had been deployed in Washington, DC since the mission began in August.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressed her intention to seek the death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the alleged shooter. Lakanwal, also wounded during the incident, remains in custody, with his fate dependent on the victims’ condition.
Andrew Wolfe, one of the National Guardsmen shot in Washington, is hospitalized in critical condition following surgery. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect, drove from Bellingham, Washington, to carry out the attack.
Lakanwal, admitted to the US through Operation Allies Welcome, applied for asylum in 2024 and obtained it earlier this year. More than 190,000 Afghans resettled in the US under this operation. The tragic event sparked reactions from various officials, including calls for prayers, increased security measures, and reassurances of support for the victims and their families.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, emphasizing the need for condemnation of violence and swift justice. The nation remains on alert as the community grapples with the aftermath of this targeted attack.
