Soldiers were sworn in the day before being shot in DC attack

By JOE HUTCHISON, US NEWS REPORTER

Published: | Updated:

Two National Guard members gunned down on the streets of Washington DC were sworn in the day before they were shot. Andrew Wolfe (pictured), 24, and Sarah Backstrom, 20, were identified as the victims in Wednesday's attack in a press conference on Thursday. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that she believed the two 'were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street'. According to authorities, the two guardsmen have undergone surgery and remain in a critical condition following the 'ambush'.

Two National Guard members gunned down on the streets of Washington DC were sworn in the day before they were shot. Andrew Wolfe (pictured), 24, and Sarah Backstrom, 20, were identified as the victims in Wednesday's attack in a press conference on Thursday. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that she believed the two 'were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street'. According to authorities, the two guardsmen have undergone surgery and remain in a critical condition following the 'ambush'.

Afghan soldier Rahmanullah Lakanwal (pictured), 29, was named as the alleged gunman and is in custody in connection with the shootout. Pirro said that the lone gunman was armed with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver when he allegedly opened fire on the two 'without provocation, ambush style'. She said: 'One guardsmen is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guardsmen again. Another guardsmen is struck several times. Fellow guardsmen who were there responded immediately, engaging the suspect, neutralizing the threat and subduing him at the scene.'

Afghan soldier Rahmanullah Lakanwal (pictured), 29, was named as the alleged gunman and is in custody in connection with the shootout. Pirro said that the lone gunman was armed with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver when he allegedly opened fire on the two 'without provocation, ambush style'. She said: 'One guardsmen is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guardsmen again. Another guardsmen is struck several times. Fellow guardsmen who were there responded immediately, engaging the suspect, neutralizing the threat and subduing him at the scene.'

Pirro said the suspect remains under heavy guard inside a hospital following the shooting. He currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro said during the press conference that 'it's too soon to say' what the suspect's motives were. She added: 'We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree. 'But make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge.'

Pirro said the suspect remains under heavy guard inside a hospital following the shooting. He currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro said during the press conference that 'it's too soon to say' what the suspect's motives were. She added: 'We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree. 'But make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge.'

According to Pirro, Lakanwal drove across the country from his home in Bellingham, Washington, some 79 miles north of Seattle, to DC before he fired at the troops. He was brought to the United States in 2021 as part of former President Joe Biden's Operation Allies Welcome when he withdrew from Afghanistan. The program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal. Prior to his arrival, the suspect worked with the US, including the CIA , 'as a member of a partner force in Kandahar,' John Ratcliffe, the spy agency's director said.

According to Pirro, Lakanwal drove across the country from his home in Bellingham, Washington, some 79 miles north of Seattle, to DC before he fired at the troops. He was brought to the United States in 2021 as part of former President Joe Biden's Operation Allies Welcome when he withdrew from Afghanistan. The program evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal. Prior to his arrival, the suspect worked with the US, including the CIA , 'as a member of a partner force in Kandahar,' John Ratcliffe, the spy agency's director said.

He did not specify what work Lakamal did, but said the relationship 'ended shortly following the chaotic evacuation' of U.S. servicemembers from Afghanistan. The two victims were on the ground inside the city as part of Donald Trump's ongoing effort to clean up the streets of D.C. Following the shooting, the president's administration quickly ordered 500 more National Guard members to the city. In response to the shooting, Trump took aim at his predecessor, insisting 'no country can tolerate such a risk to our very survival'.

'The suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan, a hellhole on earth. 'He was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021, on those infamous flights that everybody was talking about. Nobody knew who was coming in. 'His status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden, a disastrous president, the worst in our history.'

'The suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan, a hellhole on earth. 'He was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021, on those infamous flights that everybody was talking about. Nobody knew who was coming in. 'His status was extended under legislation signed by President Biden, a disastrous president, the worst in our history.'

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