Trump Confirms Death of 20-Year-Old Guardswoman Shot Near White House
National Guard specialist succumbs to wounds; Trump mourns on Thanksgiving.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, one of two West Virginia National Guard members ambushed near the White House the previous day, had succumbed to her injuries after a valiant struggle. The 20-year-old servicewoman from Summersville, West Virginia, who had enlisted in June 2023 and served with the 863rd Military Police Company, passed away shortly before Trump joined a video call with U.S. troops to commemorate the Thanksgiving holiday.
Beckstrom, described by those who knew her as a tenderhearted and ambitious individual with dreams of joining the FBI, had been shot multiple times at close range in the unprovoked attack. Her father, Gary Beckstrom, had earlier conveyed the family's heartbreaking vigil at her bedside, holding her hand as she faced a mortal wound, a moment that underscored the profound personal toll of the violence.
The second victim, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition following the same execution-style assault, with medical teams working tirelessly to stabilize him. Trump emphasized the severity of Wolfe's injuries during his address, noting that the young guardsman was fighting desperately for survival in the aftermath of the brutal encounter.
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Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former collaborator with U.S. forces and CIA affiliates who resettled in America after the 2021 withdrawal. Federal prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, have upgraded charges against Lakanwal to include first-degree murder in Beckstrom's death, alongside assault with intent to kill and firearms violations, vowing swift justice for the fallen hero.
The incident, occurring just blocks from the executive mansion, has cast a somber pall over national Thanksgiving observances and intensified the ongoing federal terrorism investigation into potential broader networks. Vigils in West Virginia communities, including Webster Springs, drew crowds honoring Beckstrom's selfless service, while Trump directed a comprehensive review of immigration vetting processes to prevent future tragedies.
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