The shooting that left two young National Guard members critically wounded near the White House has taken an explosive turn. CIA Director John Ratcliffe has now confirmed that the alleged gunman once worked with U.S.-backed partner forces in Afghanistan — including coordination with the CIA.
The revelation has triggered a political firestorm, raised serious national security questions, and reignited the debate over the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
A Deadly Attack Steps from the White House
The attack unfolded just blocks from the White House, where Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, had been on duty for less than a day when they were shot. Beckstrom died from her injuries shortly after the incident, while Wolfe remains in critical condition.
The suspect was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and arrested at the scene.
What initially appeared to be a brazen, violent assault on service members quickly escalated into a national-security crisis once investigators uncovered who the shooter really was.
A Troubling Background Revealed
Ratcliffe confirmed that the suspect previously served as part of a U.S.-supported partner force in Kandahar — a unit that had worked closely with American military personnel and intelligence agencies during the height of counterterror operations.
After the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the individual was transported to the United States as part of the emergency evacuation effort, reportedly due to his prior cooperation with American forces.
Ratcliffe sharply criticized the decision, arguing that the vetting process had failed catastrophically.
“The individual — and so many others — should never have been allowed into the United States,” Ratcliffe said. “Our citizens and service members deserve far better than to suffer the consequences of these failures.”
A Political Storm Erupts
The confirmation has ignited outrage across the country, prompting urgent questions in Washington:
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Did the vetting process overlook key warning signs?
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How many evacuees entered the U.S. under similar circumstances?
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What reforms — if any — were ever implemented after the 2021 evacuation chaos?
Lawmakers are now calling for emergency hearings and a full audit of the Afghan resettlement program, warning that the attack may be a symptom of a much wider systemic breakdown.
Meanwhile, veterans and military families have expressed anger and heartbreak, saying the tragedy feels like a “deep betrayal” after America’s long involvement in Afghanistan.
Families Devastated as Investigation Unfolds
Amid the political fallout, the families of the victims are facing unimaginable grief. Beckstrom had been sworn in less than 24 hours before the attack. Wolfe continues to fight for his life.
Loved ones say the two joined the Guard out of a desire to serve — never imagining they would become the targets of such violence in the nation’s capital.
A Nation Left Demanding Answers
The incident has become more than a criminal case; it has become a symbol of the lingering instability and unresolved consequences of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The fact that a former U.S.-partnered fighter is now accused of opening fire on American service members in Washington, D.C., has shaken public confidence and placed immense pressure on federal agencies to explain how this could have happened.
For now, the investigation continues — but the questions left in its wake are only growing louder.
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