Crime
West Virginia National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom Dies After Being Shot by Afghan National Rahmanullah Lakanwal in Washington
A West Virginia National Guard member has died following a shooting near the White House on Wednesday.
Officials have identified the victim as 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who sustained critical injuries during what authorities are describing as an ambush-style attack in downtown Washington, D.C.
Former President Donald Trump publicly confirmed her death, stating he was notified moments before addressing the public.
โI was informed that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen involved in this horrific attack โ a highly respected and remarkable young woman who began her service in June of 2023 โ has passed away. She is no longer with us, but she is looking down on us now,โ Trump said.
The second victim, identified as 24-year-old Specialist Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition and is reported to be โfighting for his life.โ
Both soldiers had been sworn into active duty less than 24 hours before the shooting occurred. Beckstrom was from Webster Springs, and Wolfe is from Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Multiple federal law enforcement agencies have confirmed that the alleged shooter is 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States on September 8, 2021, under the Biden administrationโs Operation Allies Welcome, which assisted Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He later resettled in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children.
Investigators state that Lakanwal previously served in the Afghan Special Forces and fought alongside U.S. forces against the Taliban.
He reportedly applied for asylum in 2024, and the application was approved earlier this year. However, officials now report that his legal permission to remain in the United States expired in September 2025, leaving him in the country without lawful status at the time of the incident.
Several sources have indicated that Lakanwal may have shouted a phrase in a foreign language during the attack.
Federal agencies have not yet confirmed whether this was motivated by terrorism, though the FBI has opened a counterterrorism investigation.
The shooting occurred near the Farragut Metro Station, only blocks from the White House. Approximately 10โ15 rounds were fired.
Officials describe the attack as intentional and targeted. The incident escalated into a gunfight, and the suspect was shot multiple times before being taken into custody.
Lakanwal is hospitalized and has reportedly refused to cooperate with investigators.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued a statement expressing deep sorrow, noting earlier confusion over the victimsโ conditions due to conflicting emergency reports.
โDenise and I are devastated by this tragedy. Our prayers remain with these brave service members, their families, and the entire Guard community,โ Morrisey said.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb also condemned the attack, adding:
โViolence is never the answer and must be condemnedโswiftly and without hesitation. These guardsmen volunteered to serve their nation. This is a heartbreaking day for our city and our country.โ
Federal agencies, including the FBI, DHS, and military intelligence, are continuing to investigate the motive, background, and movements of the suspect.
A search warrant was executed at his Washington State residence the same night.
Officials are reviewing whether the attack meets the legal standard for an act of terrorism.
Further updates will be released as additional verified information becomes available.
Orlando, Fla. โ Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruzโs father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruzโs partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruzโs partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
โWhen they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,โ Anthony Cruz said. โMy son didnโt deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt โ a shirt with a bullet hole.โ
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruzโs family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruzโs memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the clubโs property.
โI didnโt know the victim, but from everything Iโve been told, I wish I had,โ Cooper said. โHe seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.โ
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.