The United States Army soldier Sarah Beckstrom, age 20, passed away this Thursday after being seriously injured in a shooting that occurred on Wednesday afternoon near the White House.
The announcement of the death was made by the U.S. president himself, Donald Trump.
"We are devastated after confirming the death of one of our own, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot in the line of duty near the Farragut Square metro station on Wednesday. Specialist Beckstrom was pronounced dead at MedStar Washington Hospital on November 27 due to injuries sustained during the shooting," the National Guard wrote on X.
The attack, described by authorities as an ambush, also left another member of the National Guard in critical condition.
The incident has caused national shock and renewed the debate over the immigration policies implemented following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
A targeted shooting in the capital
The incident occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, near Farragut Square park, just two blocks from the White House.
According to the Deputy Executive Director of Specialized Operations of the Metropolitan Police Department, Jeffery Carroll, the attacker "turned a corner and immediately began shooting at the National Guard members."
The mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, described the incident as a premeditated attack: "This is a targeted shooting."
It was also noted that both soldiers were struck in the head, which led to their being transferred in critical condition to hospitals.
The information was initially confusing. The governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, the state to which both military members belong, stated on X that the two had died, but then he corrected himself after receiving "contradictory reports."
Sarah Beckstrom: A Young Woman in Service to the Country
"I learned that Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia, one of the guards we talked about, a highly respected young woman and an outstanding person, began her service in June 2023, excelling in every way, has just passed away," Trump said while making the announcement.
Hours later, in a Thanksgiving call to the military, he sorrowfully reiterated: "He has just passed away. He is no longer with us. He is watching us right now."
Sarah Beckstrom was from Summersville, she graduated in 2023 from Webster County High School and served in the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard.
She had volunteered to cover the service in D.C. during the festivities.
“She volunteered, as did many of those guards, both men and women, so that other people could be at home with their families, but now their families are in hospital rooms with them while they fight for their lives,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi to Fox News.
The New York Times reported the testimony of her father, Gary Beckstrom, who accompanied her until the end: “I am holding her hand right now.”
His ex-partner, Adam Carr, shared with CNN memories of their relationship: “She would wake up with me in the mornings when I was going to work. She would prepare lunch for me before I left, because I never wanted to do it and it didn't matter to me, but it did to her. She would wait for me every time I came home, so excited, waiting at the door to hug me when I walked in.”
Carr also stated that Beckstrom dreamed of joining the FBI and saw his time in the Guard as the way to achieve that.
Although I initially feared going to the capital, I ended up adapting and even asked to extend my stay: “I loved it very much. It never deserved any of that. I always wished it the best.”
Andrew Wolfe: still in critical condition
The second injured, Andrew Wolfe, 24 years old, a sergeant in the Air Force and a member of the Support Squadron of the 167th Airlift Wing, remains hospitalized.
"Please keep my son in your prayers," stated his father, Jason Wolfe, to CNN.
"He is a great person and a fighter," he added.
Neighbors and friends of the young man also expressed their sorrow. Michael Langone, a neighbor in Martinsburg, described him as "a great guy, a great neighbor."
Others remembered him as someone very hardworking and always kind. “It’s frightening to think that one of ours is down there hurting,” said Tina Gesford, another neighbor.
An aggressor with a military background allied with the U.S.
The attacker was identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
According to the CIA, he worked in the past with a unit backed by the United States during the war in Afghanistan, specifically in Kandahar, and was evacuated after the troop withdrawal in September 2021.
"He previously worked with the USG, including the CIA, as a member of an associated force in Kandahar that ended in 2021," a spokesperson for the agency stated.
The CIA director, John Ratcliffe, was more emphatic: "Following Biden's disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden Administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States... This individual, and so many others, should never have been allowed to come here."
As a result of the incident, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the suspension of immigration applications for Afghan citizens while an additional review of security protocols is conducted.
Trump's reaction: "He will pay a very high price."
From his residence in Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump labeled the attacker as an "animal" and stated that they "will pay a very high price."
In his network Truth Social he wrote: “God bless our great National Guard and all of our Armed Forces and law enforcement. They are truly extraordinary people. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, stand with you!”
Hours later, in a nighttime speech, he condemned the attack: “It was an act of evil, an act of hatred, and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation.”
He added that the suspect entered the country following the troop withdrawal: "According to the best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the detained suspect is a foreign national who entered our country from Afghanistan."
Although Trump did not explicitly state Lakanwal's Afghan nationality, he referred to Afghanistan as "a hell on Earth."
Vigil and tribute
The Webster Springs community held a vigil on Thursday night to honor the memory of Sarah Beckstrom and support Wolfe in prayer.
A woman who met her in nursing classes said, "I didn't know anyone here or anywhere else who was as kind and loving as she was. She truly made everyone happier."
On that same day, local and federal forces paid tribute to Beckstrom with a dignified transfer in Washington D.C., as part of the protocol for deceased service members.
Ongoing investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel noted that his agency is collaborating on the investigation. Carroll from the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that the attack was carried out by a lone gunman.
According to Telemundo 44, other members of the National Guard heard the gunfire and quickly reacted to subdue the attacker. No one else was injured.
The entire attack area remains cordoned off. So far, no clear motive has been disclosed.
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