Don’t miss the full story from our staff writers, whose reportage is the basis of this article.
Top Trump administration officials said Sunday that the Afghan refugee accused of fatally shooting two National Guardsmen before Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C., was likely radicalized after arriving in the United States in 2021. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told ABC’s “This Week” that early investigation findings suggest Rahmanullah Lakanwal “could have been radicalized in his home community and in his home state” of Washington.
The 29-year-old Lakanwal from Bellingham, Washington, is accused of killing 20-year-old Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and severely wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in an ambush Wednesday afternoon just blocks from the White House. Both victims were West Virginia National Guard members. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Lakanwal “was radicalized” and promised more details would emerge.
Emails reviewed by The Associated Press revealed Lakanwal struggled significantly after resettling in the U.S. with his wife and five sons under age 12. He had difficulty finding stable employment, failed to consistently attend English courses, and alternated between “periods of dark isolation and reckless travel.”
Community members described him spending weeks in a “darkened room, not speaking to anyone, not even his wife or older kids.” The family faced eviction in 2023 after months of unpaid rent.
Lakanwal worked in a special Afghan Army unit called a Zero Unit, which was supported by the CIA. He entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans following the chaotic 2021 withdrawal. While he resettled under the Biden administration, he received asylum in April, months after Trump took office.
Noem blamed the Biden administration for any vetting failures, stating “all the information that was gathered on that vetting process was gathered under the Biden administration.” She claimed the Trump team has since fixed holes in the vetting procedures. Democrats rejected this explanation, with Senator Chris Van Hollen saying it remained unclear whether the government mishandled Lakanwal’s case.
Authorities say Lakanwal drove across the country from Washington state to execute the attack. He faces charges including first-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault with intent to kill while armed. More charges are expected.
Sgt. Wolfe remains hospitalized fighting for his life. Trump has vowed to re-vet every Afghan admitted over the last four years and search for foreign threats within the immigrant population, prompting Democratic criticism that he’s exploiting the tragedy to target immigrants who pose no risk.
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
