A tragic shooting near the White House has claimed the life of a young National Guard member, while a second servicemember remains in critical condition following what authorities describe as a brazen and targeted attack.
Victim Identified as Dedicated Guardsman
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member from West Virginia, has died from injuries sustained during Wednesday's ambush shooting in Washington D.C. President Donald Trump confirmed Beckstrom's death during a call with service members from Palm Beach, Florida, stating she had been "savagely attacked" and had just passed away.
According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Beckstrom had volunteered to work on the day she was shot so that other service members could spend Thanksgiving with their families. President Trump described Beckstrom as "outstanding in every way" and noted she had joined the National Guard in June 2023.
Second Victim Fighting for Life
The second victim, Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition and continues to fight for his life. Both service members had been on duty in Washington D.C. for three months before the attack occurred near the White House on November 27, 2025.
During a Thursday news conference, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro revealed that Beckstrom suffered gunshot wounds to both her head and chest during the violent encounter.
FBI Launches Terror Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced it will be launching a terror probe into the shooting of the two National Guard members. The suspect has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban.
Lakanwal settled in the United States after American troops withdrew from Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power in 2021. With Beckstrom's death, authorities indicate Lakanwal will likely face upgraded charges of first-degree murder, having initially been charged with assault with intent to kill.
Officials characterized the attack as "brazen and targeted," raising serious security concerns about the safety of military personnel stationed in the nation's capital. The incident has prompted renewed discussions about protection measures for service members performing routine security duties in high-profile locations.
