The alleged shooter in the Thanksgiving Day ambush of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers had a deeply embedded connection to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is accused of fatally shooting Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe in Washington D.C., an act that has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
What’s now emerging is a startling revelation: Lakanwal’s brother, whose identity remains undisclosed, also served within the same highly secretive, CIA-backed unit known as “Zero Unit.” This brother held a position of leadership, functioning as a platoon leader within the elite force.
Lakanwal himself began his service with the Zero Unit in 2012, initially as a security guard. He steadily rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a team leader and a GPS specialist, operating in the dangerous landscape of Kandahar province – a hotbed of Taliban activity.
The Zero Units were not conventional Afghan forces. They were paramilitary teams funded and trained by the CIA, tasked with high-risk operations against the Taliban. However, the units were also plagued by accusations of human rights abuses during the long years of conflict.
Both brothers reportedly served in Kandahar, according to a family member who spoke anonymously, fearing retribution. A former Zero Unit official independently confirmed the brother’s leadership role within the organization, painting a picture of a family deeply involved in the covert war.
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 as part of “Operation Allies Welcome,” a program initiated following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. He arrived with his wife and five children, claiming to have aided American forces during the conflict.
The shooting unfolded on Wednesday, as Lakanwal allegedly opened fire on the two unarmed National Guard members who were patrolling downtown D.C. as part of “Operation DC Safe and Beautiful.” Specialist Beckstrom, just 20 years old, succumbed to gunshot wounds to the head and chest on Thanksgiving Day, despite emergency surgery.
Staff Sergeant Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition, battling for his life. Lakanwal was shot by a responding guardsman and taken into custody. Authorities have since upgraded the charges to first-degree murder and are pursuing the death penalty.
The incident has sparked intense debate about border security and vetting procedures. The circumstances surrounding Lakanwal’s arrival in the U.S., and the presence of his brother with a leadership role in a controversial unit, are now under intense scrutiny.
