Following the shooting of two National Guards, sources confirm to WUSA that DC police will now patrol alongside the remaining troops.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Sources with MPD tell WUSA9 that the changes in patrolling have are still in the planning phases but officers have not been given the assignment. The changes come in the wake of two West Virginia National Guards, Andrew Wolfe, 24 and Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who were shot on Wednesday near the White House. President Donald Trump announced Beckstrom died on Thursday.
Beckstrom enlisted in the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023 and served as a military police soldier. Wolfe is still in critical condition.
Sources also added that this could involve other agencies in the District including U.S. Park Police and Metro Transit Police. Members of both of those agencies were at the scene of the shooting on Wednesday.
The latest staffing reports from MPD indicate that there are nearly 3,200 sworn police officers.
Currently there are more than 2,200 members of the National Guard in the District—924 of them are from the DC National Guard.
On Wednesday, police say, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, came around the corner where the two guardsmen were patrolling the area near the Farragut West Metro station and opened fire around 2:15 p.m.
Lakanwal was also shot and apprehended by other members of the National Guard, according to Pirro.
All three individuals were taken to local hospitals. Lakanwal was taken to a separate hospital from the guardsmen. Lakanwal’s current condition was unknown.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, and others, are running a joint investigation into the shooting. The suspect’s motive is still unknown at this time.
Since the shooting, President Trump and Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth has called for an additional 500 more National Guard troops on Wednesday.
“We’re sending 500 more,” Trump said, adding that Washington had seen “record-setting low crime” in recent months. The president said a larger Guard force is needed after what he described as months of no violence. “Until yesterday, we literally had no incidents for many months. It was the safest place imaginable,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly credited the Guard with reducing crime in the city, though D.C. police data shows violent crime had already been trending downward and homicides continued despite the increased federal presence.
“The drop in crime has been historic. The increase in safety and security has been historic. But if criminals want to conduct things like this, violence against America’s best, we’ll never back down,” Hegseth said.
Last week, a judge ordered the Trump administration to end the monthslong occupation of D.C. by the National Guard, saying it illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement in the District.
However, she put her order on hold for 21 days to allow for an appeal.