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New footage shows the actions of a National Guardsman who opened fire on Rahmanullah Lakanwal as the Afghan terror suspect ambushed two fellow members on Thanksgiving Eve. Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the United States on a temporary visa issued in 2021 during the Biden administration, is seen in video obtained by the Wall Street Journal holding a revolver.
A witness said Lakanwal opened fire on Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe on the streets of Washington, D.C.
The witness reported that another Guard member ran around a corner while reloading his weapon. The Wall Street Journal said that “five seconds later,” the member returned fire toward the suspect.
Investigators have said that video from the scene shows a guard member exchanging gunfire with the suspect before additional troops “ran over and pin[ned] the gunman down as he was taken into custody,” according to the New York Post.
Images from the aftermath show Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, lying on the sidewalk. President Trump on Friday confirmed that Spc. Beckstrom died from her injuries. Wolfe remains in critical condition, according to the latest updates.
Officials said upgraded first-degree murder charges have been filed against the suspect following Beckstrom’s death.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she intends to pursue the death penalty.
On Friday, President Trump announced that he will order a “permanent pause” on immigration from third-world countries and terminate all illegal entries authorized under the Biden administration.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions … and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country,” the president wrote on social media.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States under the Biden administration, having previously worked with U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan. He has been formally charged, and those charges were upgraded following Beckstrom’s death.
Trump blamed Joe Biden and his immigration policies for allowing Lakanwal into the country. A reporter asked the president why he blamed Biden, prompting a sharp exchange.
“Because they let him! Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person? Because they came in on a plane, along with thousands of other people that shouldn’t be here,” President Trump replied.
“My baby girl has passed to glory,” Beckstrom’s father Gary wrote on Facebook. “If I don’t talk to you don’t be offend this has been a horrible tragedy.”
Lakanwal reportedly entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program following the chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” Trump wrote on Truth Social the day of the shootings.
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” he added.
