West Virginia football honors National Guard soldiers shot in D.C.
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Before the West Virginia Mountaineers football team played the No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders in Morgantown on Saturday afternoon, the crowd observed a moment of silence for two West Virginia National Guard soldiers who were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The public address announcer asked the crowd gathered to remain silent as they gathered to honor 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe of Martinsburg and Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Webster Springs. their pictures shown on the scoreboard in the moment of silence.
Two National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House while deployed to D.C. Spc. Beckstrom died from his injuries, Staff Sgt. Wolfe remains in critical condition.
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Rich Rodriguez, head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, during the second quarter of a game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown on Nov. 29, 2025. (Brien Aho/Getty Images)
It is stated that the suspected attacker is 29-year-old Afghan citizen Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
The shooting took place in broad daylight, and eyewitness video emerged showing the shooter, believed to be Lakanwal, wearing dark clothing, walking around a corner with a gun in his hand, and as Guardsmen scrambled for cover.
A NEW VIDEO HAS EMERGED ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF DC NATIONAL GUARDS WHILE THE SOLDIER LIVES THEM TO LIFE
One of the guards was seen at the corner of the street and returned fire. Metro Police said other National Guard members heard the gunshots about three blocks from the White House and were able to arrest Lakanwal after he was shot.
The shooter fired 10 to 15 rounds from a .357 pistol, according to federal charging documents cited. Reuters.
Lakanwal entered the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Allied Welcome, the Biden administration’s Afghan evacuation and resettlement program. Prosecutors say the man had traveled across the country shortly before the attack and had no prior criminal record.
Emergency personnel gather at a cordoned-off area where National Guard soldiers were shot near the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Lakanwal faces first-degree murder and two charges of assault with intent to kill while armed. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department intends to seek the death penalty.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were among members of the West Virginia National Guard deployed to the D.C. area to fight crime in the city in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order.
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., told “FOX & Friends Weekend” on Saturday that Wolfe was “waiting,” adding that his family was appealing for prayers.
“Andrew is fighting for his life right now, and his family and all of his friends are trying to gather as many prayers as possible from all over the country and around the world to help him recover,” West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Saturday.
National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Beckstrom died in the hospital on Thursday. (United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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“West Virginia cares deeply about its guardsmen. And West Virginians have a proud tradition of leaving military service. So when something like this happens, it’s really a gut punch to communities.”
As for the Mountaineers’ game, they were not competitive against one of the best teams in the country. The Red Raiders beat them 49-0 to improve to 11-1 on the season. West Virginia finished the season 4-8.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan, Greg Norman and Madeleine Rivera added to this report.
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