Trump announces National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom died after DC shooting

President Donald Trump announced the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member from West Virginia, after she and another guard were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

“I heard that Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia, a highly respected, young, amazing person, who started her ministry in June of 2023, who was outstanding in every way, just passed away,” Trump said on Thanksgiving. “He is no longer with us. He is looking down on us right now. His family is with him. This just happened. He was brutally attacked. He is now dead.”

The president said 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, the second soldier injured in the attack, was still “fighting for his life.”

“He’s in very bad shape,” Trump said. “He is fighting for his life and I hope we get better news about him.”

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The condition of Afghan suspected gunman Rahmanullah Lakanwal, whom Trump called a “monster”, is also in serious condition.

“We won’t even talk about it,” Trump said.

Authorities and deputies expressed their condolences to Beckstrom’s family upon learning of his death on Thanksgiving Day.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth wrote to X: “An American hero who is at home with the Lord. RIP, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. May our nation kneel in prayer for his family.”

“Sarah Beckstrom was a young soldier and patriot with her whole life ahead of her,” added FBI Director Kash Patel. “Please join me in praying for Sarah’s family, friends, and fellow soldiers she leaves behind.”

DCUS Attorney Jeanine Pirro wrote: “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, a hero who volunteered to serve DC on Thanksgiving and made the ultimate sacrifice for people she never knew. May she rest in peace. Now is the time to avenge her death and bring justice.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was “devastated”.

“Please pray for Sarah’s family. America will never forget her courage. THERE WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew,” she wrote.

Bondi also stated that the Department of Justice would pursue the death penalty against the alleged gunman.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added: “God bless Sarah’s family during this unimaginably difficult time.”

National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot in Washington, DC. (United States Attorney for the District of Columbia/Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said in a statement that Beckstrom “served with courage, extraordinary determination, and an unwavering sense of duty to his state and nation.”

“He answered the call to service, willingly stepped forward and performed his duty with the strength and character that define the best of the West Virginia National Guard,” the governor said. “Today, we honor her courage and sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had to defend others. We will forever keep her family, friends, and fellow Guardians in our prayers as she endures pain that no family should ever have to endure.”

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., said he and his wife are “heartbroken beyond words.”

“Our prayers are with his family, friends and fellow guards during this incredibly difficult Thanksgiving,” he said in a statement. “We also lift up Andrew Wolfe in prayer as he continues his journey to recovery. West Virginians always support each other, and today it is our turn to help our service members as they grieve this terrible loss.”

Senator Shelley Moore Capito, RW.V. “West Virginia will never forget Sarah’s service, sacrifice and dedication to her state and country.”

“We will continue to stand firmly with his family and the West Virginia National Guard community during this incredibly painful time,” he said in a statement.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, legally entered the United States on humanitarian parole in 2021 as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allied Welcome following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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Rahmanullah Lakanwal is the suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. (provided by the Ministry of Justice)

Lakanwal was examined by the CIA in Afghanistan for his work with the agency and again for his asylum application in the United States. A senior US official told Fox News that his background check came back “all clear.”

His asylum application was approved by the Trump administration earlier this year.

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A report published in June by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General found there were “no systematic failures” in Afghan refugee vetting or subsequent migration routes.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday that officials will reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from all “countries of concern,” including Afghanistan. USCIS has also implemented new national security measures that must be taken into account when reviewing immigrants from “high-risk” countries.