“She’s no longer with us."
minute read
West Virginia National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, has died from gunshot wounds sustained during Wednesday’s ambush attack in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening.
“She’s no longer with us,” Trump said. “This just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead.”
Beckstrom and fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot in the head while on a high-visibility patrol near the White House. The pair had been deployed as part of federal security operations in the nation’s capital. The pair had been deployed as part of federal security operations in the nation’s capital.
“The suspect is an Afghan national flown here by the previous Admin... We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, we don’t want them," Trump said on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, Beckstrom’s father told the New York Times that his daughter was not expected to survive. “I’m holding her hand right now,” Gary Beckstrom said. “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.” A man at Wolfe’s home told the outlet, “All we need right now are prayers for my son.” Wolfe remains in critical condition.
Authorities have arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, the Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. Officials say Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the capital before carrying out what investigators described as a premeditated attack.
The FBI is now leading the investigation and is treating the case as a possible act of terrorism. Law-enforcement sources say the suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu akbar” during the confrontation with the Guardsmen.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the trgic update on X, saying "Devastated. Please pray for Sarah’s family. America will never forget her courage. There WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew. Thank you to President Trump — the death penalty is back."
"May God Bless Sarah’s family during this unimaginably difficult time," said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey posted his condolenses to X, stating: "A few moments ago, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom passed away from the injuries sustained during yesterday’s horrific shooting. This is not the result we hoped for, but it is the result we all feared.
"Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation. She answered the call to serve, stepped forward willingly, and carried out her mission with the strength and character that define the very best of the West Virginia National Guard.
"Today, we honor her bravery and her sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others. 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."
This is a breaking news story. Refresh for updates.
“She’s no longer with us,” Trump said. “This just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead.”
Beckstrom and fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, were shot in the head while on a high-visibility patrol near the White House. The pair had been deployed as part of federal security operations in the nation’s capital. The pair had been deployed as part of federal security operations in the nation’s capital.
“The suspect is an Afghan national flown here by the previous Admin... We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, we don’t want them," Trump said on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, Beckstrom’s father told the New York Times that his daughter was not expected to survive. “I’m holding her hand right now,” Gary Beckstrom said. “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.” A man at Wolfe’s home told the outlet, “All we need right now are prayers for my son.” Wolfe remains in critical condition.
Authorities have arrested Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, the Afghan national who entered the United States in September 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program. Officials say Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the capital before carrying out what investigators described as a premeditated attack.
The FBI is now leading the investigation and is treating the case as a possible act of terrorism. Law-enforcement sources say the suspect allegedly shouted “Allahu akbar” during the confrontation with the Guardsmen.
Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the trgic update on X, saying "Devastated. Please pray for Sarah’s family. America will never forget her courage. There WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew. Thank you to President Trump — the death penalty is back."
"May God Bless Sarah’s family during this unimaginably difficult time," said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey posted his condolenses to X, stating: "A few moments ago, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom passed away from the injuries sustained during yesterday’s horrific shooting. This is not the result we hoped for, but it is the result we all feared.
"Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation. She answered the call to serve, stepped forward willingly, and carried out her mission with the strength and character that define the very best of the West Virginia National Guard.
"Today, we honor her bravery and her sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others. 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."
This is a breaking news story. Refresh for updates.
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