Sarah Beckstrom, Andrew Wolfe identified as Nation

The two West Virginia National Guard members who were shot in Washington, D.C., on Thanksgiving eve have been named as Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.

U.S. Attorney General of the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro identified them during a press conference on Thursday, when she confirmed that they had both had surgery and were in critical condition. Both Beckstrom and Wolfe are believed to have been "sworn in" less than 24 hours before they were shot, Pirro said.

Officials have identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, as the suspect. The charges he is facing include assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

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Pirro added: “We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree, but make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge – murder in the first degree.”

When Newsweek approached West Virginia National Guard, the FBI and the White House for further comment, each said that they had nothing to add.

Why It Matters

The shooting highlights ongoing security concerns in the nation's capital, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered hundreds of National Guard troops there to bolster law enforcement and crack down on crime in the city in August.

Following the attack, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that an additional 500 National Guard members would be deployed to D.C.

Trump has announced a review of all Afghan nationals admitted under President Joe Biden's administration, while the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services wrote on X that the department was halting the processing of all immigration requests for Afghan nationals indefinitely, pending a review of security and vetting protocols.

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What To Know

Pirro broke down a timeline of what happened during the shooting, telling how Beckstrom and Wolfe were "ambushed in a brazen and targeted attack."

She said the "lone gunman" opened fire "without provocation, ambush style" and struck one guard who "went down" and was struck again before the other guard was struck "several times." At this stage, it is unclear how many times the gunman shot each guard.

Other guardsmen and women on the scene "responded immediately," neutralizing the threat and subduing him" before the gunman was taken to hospital where he remains "under heavy guard," Pirro said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said law enforcement had carried out multiple search warrants overnight, including at the suspect's last-known residence in Washington state, where he lived with his wife and children. Everyone in the house has been interviewed while further interviews are being conducted in San Diego, Patel added.

“We will not stop until we interview anyone and everyone associated with the house and every piece of his life," he said.

Patel also revealed that there is an "ongoing investigation of terrorism" taking place, before he outright called the shooting a “heinous act of terrorism."

Wolfe was previously named in a Facebook post from Musselman High School in Inwood, West Virginia, that was cited by the New York Post and other media outlets, but appears to have since been removed. Newsweek has not been able to independently verify the post and has contacted the principal for comment.

A number of other messages sending thoughts and prayers to Wolfe were posted on Facebook after the attack.

West Virginia woman Brooke Davison posted a photo of the pair smiling with the caption: "Please pray for my dear friend Andrew Wolfe."

Beltway Baggers, which runs regional tournaments for the American Cornhole League, said in a post: "As we head into Thanksgiving, please keep our friend in your prayers. He was shot today while serving our country, and our hearts are with him and his family. We’re praying for his strength, healing, and for his family during this incredibly difficult time. We love you Andy!"

Attorney General Pam Bondi previously spoke about Beckstrom in an interview with Fox News, without naming her, saying: "She volunteered to work on Thanksgiving—working today, as did many other guardsmen and women so that other people could be at home with their families. Yet now their families are in hospital rooms with them, while they are fighting for their lives," she added. "Everyone just pray today for these two soldiers."

Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal is an Afghan national who moved to the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome during the administration of former President Joe Biden, Pirro said. She described it as a "program following the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan."

She added that she was working with the Department of Homeland Security to review his "immigration history and the vetting process."

CIA director John Ratcliffe told Fox News Digital: "The Biden administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. government, including CIA."

A relative told NBC that Lakanwal served in the Afghan Army for 10 years, working with U.S. Special Forces Troops in Afghanistan, and that he arrived in the U.S. after the Taliban took over.

"We were the ones that were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan," the relative told NBC. "I cannot believe it that he might do this."

Patel said Hegseth had confirmed to him that the suspect had a "relationship with partner forces" prompting an investigation into "any associates overseas or here in America."

What People Are Saying

U.S. Attorney General of the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said at Thursday's press conference: "These guardsmen and all who are here to protect the district are the line that separates a civilized society from a barbaric one. They are the ones who stand for law and order. This was not just an attack, it was a direct challenge to law and order in our nation’s capital."

She added: "My message to the individual who committed these acts is: You picked the wrong target, the wrong city and the wrong country and you will be sorry for the violence and the evil that you’ve perpetrated in our nation’s capital."

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social: "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. 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!"

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said in a video posted to X: "Two West Virginia National Guardsmen were brazenly shot in Washington D.C.—this was an act of unspeakable violence. Our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers go out to the brave servicemembers, their families and their units who are enduring this terrible tragedy."

What Happens Next

It is still unclear whether the two victims will survive the shooting and this will determine whether charges are changed to murder.

Pirro and Patel both spoke about the ongoing investigation into the suspect, adding that they do not yet know anything about a possible motive.

Patel promised "as much transparency as possible" and said he would provide "continuous details to the American public."

Update 11/27/2025, 10:37 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include more information from the press conference.

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