Tragic Shooting: National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom Dies in Washington DC

Thu Dec 04 2025 21:08:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, has died following a shooting incident in Washington DC. Another soldier, Andrew Wolfe, remains critically injured as law enforcement investigates the case.

Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia Army National Guard, has succumbed to injuries from a shooting in Washington DC where another guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, is fighting for his life. The shooting, described by officials as a premeditated ambush, has resulted in the arrest of a suspect. President Trump confirmed Beckstrom's death and highlighted the incident as a national security threat linked to broader immigration concerns.

One of the two members of the National Guard who were shot in Washington DC on Wednesday has died, US President Donald Trump confirmed. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while the second National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, 'is fighting for his life.'

Both were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown DC just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Police have arrested one suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan. On Friday, the US attorney for Washington DC announced the initial charges against the suspect would be upgraded to 'murder in the first degree.'

Jeanine Pirro remarked on the incident, describing it as a 'premeditated murder' involving an ambush on individuals unaware of the impending attack. The two soldiers were in the capital as part of efforts to counter perceived rising crime in US cities.

During a Thanksgiving call with US service members, Trump mourned Beckstrom, calling her a 'magnificent person.' He later communicated with her family, affirming the impact of their loss.

Beckstrom had volunteered to serve in Washington during the holiday season and had enlisted in June 2023. Following her tragic death, West Virginia Senator Jim Justice expressed his devastation and called for prayers for Beckstrom's family and Wolfe's recovery.

The attack has raised concerns over national security, prompting the Trump administration to announce a suspension of immigration requests from Afghanistan and other countries, asserting a need to reassess the status of previously issued green cards.

Lakanwal, the accused, had previously worked alongside US forces in Afghanistan before applying for and receiving asylum in the US. His connections to military operations in Afghanistan are under scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.