National Guard Family Pleads For Prayers After Washington Shooting Near White House

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The family of a West Virginia National Guardsman asked for prayers Saturday, saying he is “hanging on” after being shot near the White House along with a colleague who later passed away.

Republican Congressman Riley Moore, from West Virginia, said Saturday that the family of Andrew Wolfe, 24, is “committed to service.”

“His father is a deputy sheriff in the county next to mine, and Andy wanted to follow in those footsteps and serve his nation as a National Guardsman,” Moore told the Fox News Channel’s television program FOX & Friends Weekend.

“Andy is hanging on. And he is a fighter, and his family has told me that, time and time again, he is a fighter,” Moore added. “But above all, what they want here is for everybody to continue to pray. I believe in the power of prayer, and I can promise you his parents believe in the power of prayer. . . . Please keep praying.”

National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia, died after the shooting on Wednesday in the nation’s capital.

CHARGES FILED IN WHITE HOUSE AREA SHOOTING

The alleged Afghan gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, faces multiple charges, including one count of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty against the suspect.

Authorities said the attack happened Wednesday morning local time near 17th Street and I Street NW, just two blocks from the White House and close to the Farragut West Metro station. Officials described the incident as a “targeted ambush” on the two uniformed National Guard members stationed there under Washington’s emergency public-safety deployment.

Witness accounts and official briefings suggest the gunman approached the Guardsmen without warning and opened fire at close range. Both soldiers were struck multiple times before police arrived and exchanged fire with the suspect, who was subsequently injured and taken into custody.

Beckstrom later died in the hospital, while Wolfe remains in grave condition according to his family.

TRUMP ORDERS IMMIGRATION FREEZE AFTER ATTACK

President Donald J. Trump condemned the attack as “an act of pure evil” and said the nation must “stand firmly behind our servicemen and women.” In response, he paused all immigration processing for Afghan nationals and ordered a full review of vetting procedures for those arriving under U.S. resettlement programs.

He also announced a broader security overhaul of National Guard deployments in Washington, directing agencies to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen protection for personnel assigned to public-safety patrols.

“This horrific ambush should never have happened,” Trump said, adding that the government would reassess every refugee and resettlement program linked to Afghanistan.

Federal authorities confirmed that Guard posts in the capital will be reevaluated and that joint patrols with local police will be expanded to reduce the risk of further attacks. Following the shootings, officials also said an additional 500 National Guard troops have been ordered into Washington, bringing the total force in the capital to more than 2,500 personnel. Authorities explained that Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through a special resettlement program for Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the war, prompting investigators to review his background, military ties, and any potential warning signs before the attack.

AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM UNDER INVESTIGATION

Investigators are now examining his background, including any past military or intelligence links, and probing potential mental-health concerns while maintaining that he appears to have acted alone pending further findings.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the attack “one of the most serious assaults on uniformed personnel in recent decades,” urging residents to remain vigilant as the investigation continues.

She said the city is coordinating closely with federal agencies to ensure the safety of National Guard troops who remain deployed across the capital during the ongoing crime-emergency response.

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