West Virginia National Guard's Sara Beckstrom has died in a shooting near the White House by an Afghan national. Another member is critically injured. The shooter, Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, who had worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, is in custody.
America: Specialist Sara Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard, who was injured in a shooting by an Afghan national near the White House, has died. The second injured member is in critical condition. The shooter, Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, has been taken into custody. He had worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. Following the shooting, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that one of the two members injured in the attack had passed away. He described the incident as dangerous and tragic.
Trump Pays Tribute to Sara Beckstrom
In West Palm Beach, Trump announced that 20-year-old Sara Beckstrom had died, and 24-year-old Andrew Wolf was fighting for his life. Trump stated that Sara would now be looking down from above, and his thoughts were with her parents during this difficult time. He described Sara as an excellent person who was the best in every way. Trump declared the shooting a terrorist attack and stated that bringing Afghans who had helped U.S. forces in the Afghanistan war to America was a big mistake. He added that his administration was conducting a large-scale deportation campaign, with the assistance of the National Guard.
Background of Shooter Rahmanullah Lakhanwal
Trump stated that Lakhanwal had become mentally unstable after the war. According to him, he had gone completely insane, which often happens in such cases. The shooter has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakhanwal. He had worked in a CIA-backed Special Afghan Army Unit in Afghanistan. According to two anonymous sources and the #AfghanEvac organization, Lakhanwal had assisted the U.S. during the Afghan war. This organization works to resettle Afghans in America.
Details of the Shooting Incident
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated that the shooting occurred on Wednesday afternoon, a few blocks away from the White House. She declined to comment on the motive for the attack and said that it was an ambush. The shooter used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. Lakhanwal was also shot after the incident, but his condition is not critical, and he is in custody. Lakhanwal's cousin stated that he is a resident of Khost province and that he and his brother worked for Zero Units in Kandahar, which were CIA-backed paramilitary units.
Lakhanwal's Career
According to a former official, Lakhanwal was a team leader, and his brother was a platoon leader. The cousin stated that Lakhanwal began as a security guard in 2012 and eventually became a team leader and GPS specialist. Kandahar is considered a Taliban bhold, where prolonged fighting occurred during U.S.-led attacks after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. In these operations, the CIA involved Afghans in translation, administration, and on the front lines of the war. Zero Units were CIA-backed units composed of Afghan members who worked directly with them.
