Dem Rep Bennie Thompson says targeted ambush attack by Afghan man on DC National Guard troops was 'unfortunate accident'

During a House hearing on Thursday, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) referred to the murder of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom by an Afghan national charged with targetting her and her colleague Andrew Wolfe in an ambush attack an "unfortunate accident."

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who was the subject of Thompson's questioning balked, saying, "You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack. They shot our National Guardsman in the head." Wolfe is still in the hospital with critical injuries.

"Madam Secretary," Thompson began, "you and the gentleman from NCTC reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with National Guardsman being killed—"

After being scolded by Noem, Thomspon said he would "get it straight" in his other comments. Then he called Beckstrom's murder and Wolfe's critical injuries an "unfortunate situation." Both of them were shot in the head.

Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been charged with the murder of Beckstrom as well as the shooting of Wolfe. He drove across country from Washington State prior to the shooting and allegedly shot the Guardsmen at point-blank range in an ambush-style attack.

Wolfe, although in critical condition, has been showing significant signs of improvement since the shooting despite being hit in the head. President Donald Trump addressed Wolfe's status in a speech given on Tuesday and said that Wolfe has been able to sit up and get out of bed.

"Today I got a call that he got up from bed. Do you believe that?" Trump said at the time, referencing his conversations with Wolfe's mother, Monica.