National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom Dies Following Shooting in D.C.
In a somber announcement this Thanksgiving, President Donald Trump confirmed the death of 20-year-old National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, who was shot while on duty in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. “She’s just passed away,” Trump stated, describing the young servicewoman as “highly respected” and “magnificent.” Beckstrom, who had joined the National Guard in June 2023, was one of two guardsmen attacked in the shooting. The second victim, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition, “fighting for his life” according to the president. The tragedy has cast a shadow over the holiday as officials and family members grapple with the loss of a young woman described as exemplifying the best qualities of service and dedication.
The outpouring of grief and respect for Beckstrom was immediate and widespread. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth called her “an American hero, at home with the LORD,” while FBI Director Kash Patel noted she was “a young soldier and patriot with her entire life ahead of her.” West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey praised her exceptional character, stating she “served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation.” Senator Jim Justice expressed being “heartbroken beyond words,” and Senator Shelley Moore Capito promised that “West Virginia will never forget Sarah’s service, her sacrifice, and the dedication she showed to her state and her country.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered prayers for Beckstrom’s family “during this unimaginably difficult time,” reflecting the national sense of loss over a young woman who had volunteered to serve in the nation’s capital during the Thanksgiving holiday.
The alleged shooter has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who is currently in serious condition. Lakanwal entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. According to a senior U.S. official, he had been vetted by the CIA both in Afghanistan for his work with the agency and again during his asylum application process in the United States, reportedly coming up “clean on all checks.” His asylum application was approved earlier this year under the Trump administration, raising questions about the vetting process for immigrants from high-risk regions despite a June Department of Justice report that found “no systemic failures” in the vetting of Afghan refugees.
In immediate response to the tragedy, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Justice Department would pursue the death penalty against Lakanwal, declaring there “WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah.” D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro echoed this sentiment, describing Beckstrom as “a hero who volunteered to serve DC on Thanksgiving for people she never met and gave the ultimate sacrifice.” The shooting has prompted U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to announce they would reexamine green cards issued to immigrants from every “country of concern,” including Afghanistan, and implement new national security measures when vetting immigrants from “high risk” countries, signaling potential policy shifts in how the United States processes and monitors immigrants from certain regions.
The tragedy is particularly poignant given the timing—Beckstrom was serving on Thanksgiving, a day traditionally spent with family and in gratitude. Instead, her family received the devastating news of her death while the nation celebrated. Governor Morrisey captured this painful irony in his statement: “We will forever hold her family, her friends, and her fellow Guardsmen in our prayers as they grieve what no family should ever have to bear.” For the West Virginia National Guard community, the loss of one of their own has transformed a day of national thanksgiving into one of profound mourning, underscoring the risks that service members face even when deployed domestically.
As the nation processes this tragedy, the focus remains on honoring Beckstrom’s sacrifice while supporting Wolfe in his recovery. The incident raises difficult questions about domestic security, immigration policies, and the protection of those who serve. But beyond the policy debates that will inevitably follow, there remains the stark human reality: a 20-year-old woman who chose to serve her country will never return home. Her life, cut short while in uniform, reminds us of the commitment and courage of those who volunteer to protect others, and of the incalculable cost when that service ends in the ultimate sacrifice. As America continues its Thanksgiving traditions, many will pause to remember Sarah Beckstrom and the values of duty and service she embodied in her brief but meaningful life.
