FBI Director Kash Patel has released a new statement concerning the unsettling shooting involving the National Guard that occurred last week just a short distance from the White House.
On November 26, at around 2:20 p.m. ET, two members of the National Guard were shot near the Farragut West Metro station entrance, located close to the bustling intersection of 17th and I St NW in Washington, D.C.
Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, and Andrew Wolfe, aged 24, were on duty when they were shot. Tragically, Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries in the hospital, while Wolfe is still on the path to recovery.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the sole suspect, was apprehended in relation to the incident. He faces charges of first-degree murder, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
Despite having detained a suspect, Patel has clarified that the investigation is ongoing. On Tuesday evening, he informed Fox News that “no stone would be left unturned.”
He stated: “First and foremost our prayers to the family of the fallen soldier and our prayers to the family of hopefully this individual who continues to recover.”
“This is a sprawling international terrorism investigation that the FBI is leading out on and we are making sure we work with our interagency partners and have already issued dozens of pieces of legal processes, dozens of devices.”
“We’ve already hit two houses and interviewed many individuals associated with the subject and that investigation’s going to continue on to anyone and everyone this person ever spoke to.”
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned. We’re going to collect the evidence. We’re going to hand this off to our partners at DOJ and make sure he’s prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
“Anyone else that was responsible for this heinous attack will be held to the same account.”
Officials have reported that Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021. He was part of a program providing special immigration protections to those from Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal from the country.
During the period when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, many former Afghan allies of Western forces feared for their safety due to their past collaborations with the U.S.
The BBC noted that Lakanwal provided security for U.S. forces at Kabul airport in 2021 amidst the frantic efforts of thousands to flee Afghanistan.
The suspect was a member of Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, a specialized unit that initially operated under the CIA and later for Afghan intelligence. He applied for asylum in 2024 and received approval earlier this year.