Update on Washington, D.C. National Guard Shooting
One member of the National Guard is still fighting for his life after a shooting on Thanksgiving Eve in Washington, D.C. that killed another service member. Read on for the latest details on this tragic situation.
Latest on National Guard Shooting in Washington, D.C.
An ambush-style shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon left one National Guard member and another critically wounded. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died in the shooting outside the Farragut West metro station. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was left seriously injured and remains in the hospital in critical condition. Both Beckstrom and Wolfe served in the West Virginia National Guard.
The pair were two of thousands of soldiers sent to the nation's capital from all over the country as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on crime. The service members have been a constant sight in Washington, D.C. since August.
The shooting suspect was identified as Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The former refugee was currently living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and two young children. Lakanwal was wounded in the shooting.
Wednesday's shooting has added fuel to President Donald Trump's ongoing crackdown on immigration. The president said that he is permanently pausing migration from third-world countries in the wake of the shooting. It is unknown if this will be enforced and which countries the president is targeting. The president also said that the White House is determining if they will deport Lakanwal's family. Meanwhile, several U.S. agencies have said that they will review pending asylum cases and green card recipients.
The Trump administration continues to blame the Biden administration for the tragedy, claiming that the 29-year-old suspect was among the millions of foreigners who entered the U.S. without proper vetting while Biden was president. Lakanwal was recently granted asylum in April by the Trump administration.
Investigators have not been able to establish a motive for the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the shooting is being treated as an act of terrorism.
According to Executive Assistant Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Jeffery Carroll, Beckstrom and Wolfe were performing what is known as “high visibility patrols” when Lakanwal approached the pair, raised a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver, and began shooting at them.
The White House is calling for more troops to be deployed to Washington, D.C. The demands come as a federal judge considers whether Trump has the legal power to deploy troops to the various cities throughout the U.S.
About the Victims
Local law and federal law enforcement agencies honored Beckstrom on Thanksgiving night, lining the streets in Washington, D.C., as her body was transferred to the medical examiner. The dignified transfer was attended by hundreds of National Guard members, Metropolitan Police, D.C. Fire, Secret Service agents, and more. It was also reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth attended the procession.
Beckstrom had served the country for over two years when she was shot and killed in the line of duty. President Trump described the 20-year-old as "outstanding in every way." She began her military service in June 2023 and was currently serving as part of the 111th Engineer Brigade. Friends and family of Beckstrom said that she had a goal of joining the FBI one day, using her time with the National Guard as a pathway to that career. Beckstrom had volunteered to work over the Thanksgiving holiday so that others could spend time with their families.
According to a statement from the West Virginia National Guard, Beckstrom was from Summersville, West Virginia, while Wolfe is from Martinsburg, West Virginia. Both of the soldiers had been working in the capital as part of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission since this summer.
Wolfe has been serving in the West Virginia National Guard since February 5, 2019. He is currently assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing.
West Virginia Rep. Riley Moore told the media on Sunday that Wolfe was "fighting for his life." Moore said that the family is asking for continued prayers.
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