White House shooting: Officials said Thursday that the suspect who shot and killed two National Guardsmen was driving around before the attack and faces assault and weapons charges.
The injured National Guard members were identified as Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe (24). They were under oath less than 24 hours before they were attacked.
Jeanine Pirro, DC’s US representative, said they underwent surgery and remained in critical condition.
Armed with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver, the lone gunman opened fire without provocation in an ambush style.
She added that the suspect — a 29-year-old Afghan national named Rahmanullah Lakanwal — was driving cross-country from his home near Bellingham.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, currently faces three counts of intent to kill while armed.
“He was driving his vehicle criss-crossing Washington state with the intended purpose of coming to our nation’s capital. The charges that are now in place are three counts of assault – with intent to kill while armed and a DC code violation. He will also be charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. We intend to see what the charges will be depending on the conditions of the guards,” Pirro said.
The lawyer said they were in constant contact with the families of the injured National Guard members.
FBI Director Kash Patel told a press conference that the United States is taking the White House as a terrorism investigation, adding that they must meet this Thanksgiving.
Patel called it a “coast-to-coast investigation” and said it was an ongoing terrorism investigation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said separately that the US plans to charge him with terrorism and seek life in prison.
Meanwhile, the FBI searched several properties in Washington state and San Diego.
FBI Director Kash Patel said investigators seized a variety of electronic devices from the suspect’s home in Washington state, including cellphones, laptops and iPads.
