The suspect within the “focused” taking pictures of two Nationwide Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., will now face costs upgraded to first-degree homicide after President Donald Trump introduced the death of one of the victims late Thursday, U.S. Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated Friday.
“There are definitely many extra costs to come back, however we’re upgrading the preliminary costs of assault to homicide within the first diploma,” Pirro stated Friday morning on Fox Information’ “Fox & Buddies.”
The suspected gunman, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was beforehand charged with three counts of assault with the intent to kill whereas armed and felony possession of a weapon, officers stated throughout a press convention on Thursday.
Nationwide Guard members Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.
U.S. Division of Justice
Lakanwal is accused of firing at two Nationwide Guard members, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, on Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect allegedly “opened fireplace with out provocation, ambush type,” struck one of many victims, leaned over and shot the person once more, earlier than firing on the different Nationwide Guard member “a number of occasions,” Pirro stated on Thursday.
Video obtained by The Wall Road Journal exhibits the second of the taking pictures. The footage briefly exhibits Lakanwal brandishing a gun earlier than he runs off-camera. A Nationwide Guardsmen can be seen within the video working and reloading his gun.
Video obtained by The Wall Road Journal exhibits the second Rahmanullah Lakanwal opened fireplace at two Nationwide Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 26, 2025.
Obtained by The Wall Road Journal
Trump introduced on Thursday night that Beckstrom, an Military specialist, had died.
“She’s simply handed away. She’s now not with us. She’s wanting down at us proper now,” Trump stated of Beckstrom. “Her dad and mom are along with her. It is simply occurred.”
U.S. service members line the streets of Washington, D.C., throughout an honor escort, also referred to as a fallen soldier procession, for U.S. Military Spc. Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia Nationwide Guard, Nov. 27, 2025.
Billy Blankenship/Joint Job Power DC
Andrew Wolfe, a U.S. Air Power workers sergeant, stays in vital situation.
“The opposite younger man is combating for his life,” Trump stated. “He is in very unhealthy form. He is combating for his life.”
The taking pictures passed off round 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday close to the Farragut West Metro station.
Pirro stated the suspect, an Afghan nationwide, allegedly drove from Washington state to focus on the guard members, opening fireplace with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
U.S. Division of Justice
The suspect’s motive remains to be unclear, in accordance with officers.
A search warrant was carried out on the suspect’s dwelling in Bellingham, Washington, the place officers discovered “quite a few digital units,” FBI Director Kash Patel stated on Thursday.
Patel additionally famous the FBI acquired affirmation from the Division of Protection and CIA “that the topic had a relationship in Afghanistan with associate forces.”
FBI Director Kash Patel speaks throughout a press convention with U.S. Lawyer for D.C. Jeanine Pirro and different authorities in regards to the taking pictures of two Nationwide Guard members, in Washington, D.C., Nov. 27, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
“We’re absolutely investigating that facet of his background as effectively, to incorporate any identified associates which can be both abroad or right here in america of America,” Patel stated.Â
Lakanwal is believed to be from Afghanistan and got here to america in 2021 beneath the Biden administration, regulation enforcement sources stated. He utilized for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April, likely after being vetted, beneath the Trump administration, in accordance with the sources.
A makeshift memorial has been arrange in honor of the 2 Nationwide Guard service members shot close to the Farragut West Metro Station in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 28, 2025, two days after a taking pictures killed one Nationwide Guard member and critically wounded one other.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
The Nationwide Guard was deployed to the nation’s capital as a part of Trump’s federal takeover of town and crime crackdown in August. In line with the newest replace, there have been 2,188 Nationwide Guard personnel assigned to D.C.
Folks place flowers in a makeshift memorial arrange after two Nationwide Guard members have been shot, close to the White Home, in Washington, D.C., Nov. 28, 2025.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
A day earlier than the taking pictures, throughout the traditional turkey pardoning on the White Home, Trump touted his administration’s takeover of D.C. streets. He stated it was “certainly one of our most unsafe locations anyplace in america. It’s now thought-about a completely secure metropolis.”
“You can stroll down any avenue in Washington and you are going to be simply advantageous. And I need to thank the Nationwide Guard. I need to thanks for the job you’ve got executed right here is unbelievable,” Trump stated on the occasion.
