A suspect in the shooting deaths of two National Guardsmen near the White House was subdued by quick-acting security guards using just a pocketknife, reports indicate.
29-year-old Rahmanullah Rakanwar, who fled Afghanistan, reportedly made a cross-country trip of nearly 3,000 miles from Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., arriving Wednesday afternoon. Details on when he left home remain unclear; he is said to have a wife and five children.
By around 2 p.m., he was positioned at the Farragut West subway entrance, just a couple of blocks from the White House, while two armed National Guard members patrolled the area.
The shooting took place on 17th Street NW, adjacent to Farragut Square Park.
According to authorities, Rakanwar drew a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver and opened fire on the Guardsmen.
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who volunteered to work that day to allow others to spend Thanksgiving at home, was shot in the head and chest. Her father has stated that her injuries are considered fatal.
Reportedly, Rakanwar had only four bullets and afterward seized Beckstrom’s weapon, continuing to fire at 24-year-old security sergeant Andrew Wolf, who remains in critical condition.
A National Guard major, who was nearby checking on troops, heard the gunfire and spotted Rakanwar, even though he was unarmed himself.
In that moment of chaos, the major took cover behind a car and drew out his pocketknife. As Rakanwar paused to reload, the major charged at him, stabbing the suspect multiple times before taking him to the ground.
During the incident, the major reportedly heard Rakanwar shouting “Allahu Akbar,” a phrase often used by extremists during attacks.
A fourth National Guard member also joined the fray, shooting Rakanwar in the lower body. Together, they held him down until authorities could arrest him.
Rakanwar survived and now faces charges for assault and weapon possession with intent to kill. The District of Columbia’s attorney has expressed intentions to impose severe legal consequences if the Guardsmen do not recover.
The motivation behind Rakanwar’s alleged attack is still uncertain, but there are suggestions that his past involvement with a U.S.-backed militia in Afghanistan may have influenced his actions. The CIA has confirmed that he was affiliated with this militia until shortly after the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021.
Following that, Rakanwar immigrated to the United States under President Biden’s ‘Operation Welcome Allies,’ which enabled around 76,000 Afghans—many of whom supported U.S. efforts during the war—to resettle in the country.
He and his family now live in Bellingham, a small community about 32 miles from the Canadian border, which is known for its Afghan refugee population.
Authorities believe Rakanwar acted alone in this incident.
