National Guard Major Disarms Gunman in Washington D.C. Incident

In a remarkable display of bravery, a National Guard major successfully disarmed a gunman in Washington D.C. on November 26, 2025, using nothing but a pocket knife. The incident occurred near the White House, where the gunman, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly opened fire on two National Guard members who were on patrol.

Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national residing in Bellingham, Washington, reportedly drove nearly 3,000 miles across the United States prior to the attack. Witnesses stated that he fired a .357 Magnum revolver at the two guardsmen near the Farragut West Metro entrance around 2 p.m. local time.

Tragically, one of the victims, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, sustained critical injuries to her head and chest. Her father informed The New York Times that she is not expected to survive. The second victim, Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, also suffered severe injuries during the assault.

As the gunfire erupted, a National Guard major nearby, who was on routine patrol, heard the shots and rushed towards the sound. Despite being unarmed, he took decisive action when he saw Lakanwal attempting to reload his weapon. According to reports from law enforcement sources, the major leapt from cover and used his pocket knife to stab the assailant multiple times in the head, effectively subduing him.

Following the major's intervention, another National Guardsman arrived on the scene with a firearm and shot Lakanwal in the leg and buttocks. The two guardsmen managed to restrain Lakanwal until police arrived. He was subsequently taken into custody and is now facing multiple charges, including possession of a firearm during a violent crime and intent to kill while armed.

Authorities are still investigating the motive behind Lakanwal's actions, which remains unclear at this time. It has been confirmed that he previously served in paramilitary operations in Afghanistan, collaborating with U.S. forces. His immigration status is also under scrutiny, having arrived in the United States through President Biden's Operation Allies Welcome, a resettlement programme for Afghan partners after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The FBI is treating the incident as a serious matter and has stated that Lakanwal acted alone. As investigations continue, the incident raises significant concerns about security and the vetting processes for immigrants entering the U.S.