National Guard member dies after DC shooting attack

Published: 28 November 2025 Friday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A young National Guard soldier has died after a broad-daylight shooting in central Washington DC, an attack that has shaken the US capital and drawn grief from national leaders. President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday evening that 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries, a day after she and a fellow Guardsman were shot at close range near Farragut Square. The incident occurred just after 14:00 EST on Wednesday, in an area normally crowded with office workers, commuters, and tourists.

Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe were on a routine high-visibility patrol when the attack unfolded. Both had been deployed to Washington as part of a wider federal initiative that placed more than 2,000 National Guard members in major cities to confront what the president has described as “out of control” crime. Witnesses described a sudden burst of gunfire before the two Guardsmen collapsed on the pavement, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement officers stationed nearby.

Police swiftly arrested a suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, originally from Afghanistan. Law enforcement officials said the suspect was shot four times during the apprehension and was taken into custody. Authorities later confirmed that Lakanwal had entered the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome—a special immigration programme launched after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan to accommodate Afghans who had worked closely with American forces. According to former military colleagues, Lakanwal had served with the Kandahar Strike Force, a unit that had operated under both CIA oversight and Afghanistan’s former intelligence service.

President Trump formally announced Beckstrom’s death during a Thanksgiving call with US service members. Describing her as “a highly respected, young, magnificent person,” he offered condolences to her family and later called her parents privately. A White House official confirmed the personal conversation, noting that the president wanted to assure the family that the nation stood with them in their grief.

Beckstrom had enlisted in June 2023 and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company of the West Virginia Army National Guard. She had volunteered to work in the nation’s capital over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who described her as a dedicated soldier deeply committed to service. West Virginia Senator Jim Justice said he was “absolutely devastated,” calling the loss “an incredibly painful tragedy for her family, her fellow Guardsmen, and our entire state.”

Meanwhile, Wolfe remains in critical condition. Trump told reporters that the young Guardsman was “fighting for his life,” and officials have stressed that medical teams are doing everything possible to stabilise him. Senator Justice urged the public to keep Wolfe in their prayers, emphasising the challenges faced by National Guard troops deployed on domestic security missions.

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said on Thursday that Lakanwal would face multiple charges, including three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, as well as possession of a firearm during a violent crime. Speaking before Beckstrom’s death was confirmed, Pirro noted that the charges would be upgraded to first-degree murder should either victim succumb. Later in the day, Attorney General Bondi said her office would seek the death penalty against the suspect, calling him a “monster who should not have been in our country.”

Further details about Lakanwal’s background emerged throughout the day. Former commanders who served with him in Afghanistan described him as a “sporty and jolly character” with experience as a GPS tracking specialist. His unit had guarded Kabul airport during the chaotic final days of the US withdrawal in 2021, before being airlifted to America as the Taliban advanced. He applied for asylum in 2024, an application that was approved earlier this year.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the suspect “had a relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces,” acknowledging that he had worked closely with US military personnel. Meanwhile, US immigration officials announced a sweeping review of Green Cards issued to nationals from what the president called “countries of concern,” echoing a previous White House proclamation. The list includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.

The shooting’s proximity to the White House and the involvement of military personnel triggered an unusually large law enforcement response, with multiple agencies converging on the scene within minutes. Despite the quick apprehension of the suspect, the attack has reignited political debate over the deployment of National Guard troops inside US cities, their authority during domestic operations, and broader questions surrounding immigration vetting.

As Washington grapples with the aftermath of the attack, tributes continue to pour in for Beckstrom, who had dedicated herself to service even before completing her second year in uniform. For her family, her fellow Guardsmen, and the city she was assigned to protect, Thanksgiving Day was transformed from a moment of national gratitude into one of profound loss.