Overview
- At a Dec. 11 House Homeland Security hearing on worldwide threats, Rep. Bennie Thompson referred to the Nov. 26 shooting as an "unfortunate accident" before rephrasing it as an "unfortunate situation."
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem interrupted to call the incident a terrorist attack, and Rep. Andy Ogles objected that it was a murder and called Thompson's phrasing disrespectful.
- Thompson told CNN on Dec. 12 that he misspoke and said he does not believe the killing was an accident.
- Officials have not classified the shooting as terrorism, and the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, faces murder and other felony charges.
- Lakanwal entered the United States through Operation Allies Welcome; the attack killed National Guard specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, whose recovery has been reported to be improving.