Taking pictures suspect drove throughout nation to focus on Guard members: Officers

Federal officers on Thursday morning revealed extra particulars concerning the assault the day earlier than that left two Nationwide Guard members in vital situation in an obvious “focused taking pictures” close to the White Home.

Jeanine Pirro, the highest federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, recognized the 2 members of the West Virginia Nationwide Guard wounded as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24.

The taking pictures befell round 2:15 p.m. Wednesday afternoon close to the Farragut West Metro station.

Pirro stated the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly drove throughout nation from Washington state to focus on the Guard members.

She stated the suspect, an Afghan nationwide, ambushed the Guard members, opening fireplace with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, she stated.

“One guardsman is struck, goes down, after which the shooter leans over and strikes the Guardsman once more. One other Guardsman is struck a number of occasions,” she stated.

Different Nationwide Guard members rapidly responded and helped subdue the suspected shooter after he was shot by a Guard member, she stated.

Pirro stated that the suspect will probably be charged with a number of counts, together with assault with intent to hurt and legal possession of a weapon. She famous that these prices might change relying on the destiny of the wounded Guard members.

The White Home was briefly placed on lockdown on Wednesday however the order was lifted at about 5 p.m. President Donald Trump and the primary woman are in Florida, the place they’re spending Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago membership.

Lakanwal got here to america in 2021 below the Biden administration, Homeland Safety Kristi Noem stated. He utilized for asylum in 2024 and was granted asylum in April of this yr, below the Trump administration, in keeping with three legislation enforcement sources.

“He beforehand labored with the USG, together with CIA, as a member of a companion pressure in Kandahar that led to 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” CIA director John Ratcliffe stated in a press release.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated the company is investigating the taking pictures as a possible act of worldwide terrorism, with sources telling ABC Information authorities are attempting to find out if it might have been impressed by a world terrorist group.

“[The suspect] would have been vetted towards categorised and unclassified holdings when he got here right here and as a part of the asylum course of,” stated ABC Information contributor John Cohen, who was the previous head of intelligence for the Division of Homeland Safety and a former U.S. counterterrorism coordinator. “He was truly granted asylum below the Trump administration … This does elevate the query whether or not the administration is focusing sufficient on terrorism threats versus civil immigration enforcement.”

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 response to the newest replace, there have been 2,188 Guard personnel assigned to D.C.

On Tuesday, through the conventional 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 wherever in america. It’s now thought of a very protected metropolis.”

“You could possibly stroll down any road in Washington and you are going to be simply high-quality. And I wish to thank the Nationwide Guard. I wish to thanks for the job you have finished right here is unbelievable,” Trump stated on the occasion.

ABC Information’ Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.