Terrorism Probe: FBI Raids Homes After National Guard Members Shot Near White House in DC

FBI Launches Terrorism Probe After White House National Guard Shooting

In a rapidly unfolding federal investigation, FBI agents conducted raids across Washington state and San Diego on Thursday, November 27, 2025, as part of a terrorism probe. The focus of the probe is an Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, suspected of gravely wounding two National Guard members in Washington D.C. the previous day. Both Guard members remain in critical condition following the brutal ambush.

FBI Director Kash Patel, addressing a press conference in Washington D.C., labeled the shootings a "heinous act of terrorism," though authorities have yet to offer a motive. Patel confirmed investigators seized numerous electronic devices, including cellphones, laptops, and iPads, from Lakanwal's residence in Washington state and interviewed his relatives.

Details of the Attack and Victims Identified

US Attorney for Washington D.C., Jeanine Pirro, identified the wounded Guard members as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24. Pirro detailed how the suspect, armed with a powerful .357 Magnum revolver, ambushed them during their patrol near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. He reportedly shot one member, then fired again before repeatedly shooting the second. The father of Sarah Beckstrom conveyed his profound despair to the New York Times, stating his daughter was unlikely to survive. "I'm holding her hand right now," he reportedly said.

Suspect's Background and Journey to the Capital

The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, lived in Washington state with his wife and five children. Pirro revealed that Lakanwal had driven cross-country with the explicit intent of targeting the nation's capital. He was wounded during an exchange of gunfire before his arrest. Kash Patel and CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Lakanwal had previously worked with US partner forces, including CIA-backed local units, during the war in Afghanistan.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a program established under the Biden administration to resettled Afghans who aided the US military and feared Taliban retaliation after the American withdrawal.

Charges, Investigation, and Political Ramifications

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced plans to pursue terrorism charges, seeking a minimum sentence of life imprisonment. Pirro outlined current charges: three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and one charge of firearm possession during a crime of violence. She added that murder charges could follow if either Guard member succumbs to their injuries. Washington Metropolitan Police Department's executive assistant chief, Jeff Carroll, indicated Lakanwal appeared to have acted alone.

The incident has swiftly ignited a political firestorm. President Donald Trump, speaking from his Florida resort, condemned the shooting as "an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror." While Pirro and Patel openly criticized the Biden administration for alleged improper vetting of Lakanwal, offering no immediate evidence, former CIA Director Ratcliffe echoed this sentiment. However, a Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, countered that Lakanwal's asylum application was approved in April of this year, three months into Trump's current term, despite his residency in Washington state and no known criminal history at the time.

The Department of Homeland Security declared that the Trump administration would review all asylum cases approved during the Biden presidency. Following the attack, US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an indefinite halt to processing all immigration requests for Afghan nationals, pending a review of security and vetting protocols.

Immigration Policy Debate Intensifies

Vice President JD Vance, while in Kentucky, leveraged social media to defend the Trump administration's immigration policies, asserting the shooting vindicated their stance and called for intensified efforts to deport those "with no right to be in our country." Critics, however, argue the administration's immigration approach employs harsh tactics, indiscriminately affecting individuals, including those with no criminal history or legal status.

The two wounded Guard members were part of a militarized law enforcement mission ordered by President Trump in August, a move challenged by Washington D.C. officials. In the wake of the shooting, Trump ordered an additional 500 troops to the capital, augmenting the existing 2,200 deployed as part of his broader immigration and crime crackdown targeting Democratic-led cities. Despite Trump's repeated claims that crime has vanished from the capital due to this deployment, police statistics suggest otherwise. The tragic event leaves open questions about the future of Guard operations in urban centers, where members typically patrol in small, often lightly armed groups.