National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom Dies in D.C. Shooting; Fellow Guardman Critical
A 20-year-old National Guard member, Sarah Beckstrom, died after being shot in a Washington, D.C., attack on Wednesday, as confirmed by President Donald Trump. The attack also left her fellow guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, 2, in critical condition. Trump expressed his condolences, calling Beckstrom a ‘highly respected’ young service member who gave the ultimate sacrifice. ‘She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It’s just happened. She was savagely attacked.’
The alleged gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is also in serious condition. Trump described him as a ‘monster’ and vowed that justice would be served. U.S. officials, including the Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel, offered condolences for Beckstrom’s family, emphasizing her heroic service. ‘An American hero, at home with the LORD. RIP, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. May our nation kneel in prayer for her family,’ Hegseth wrote on X.
Congressional leaders, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, vowed to pursue the death penalty against Lakanwal. ‘There WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew,’ Bondi stated. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey praised Beckstrom’s service, calling her a ‘young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others.’ Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., expressed heartbreak over the incident, stating that ‘West Virginians always show up for one another, and today it’s our turn to show up for our service members as they mourn this terrible loss.’
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program, following Afghanistan’s U.S. withdrawal. Lakanwal was vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan for his work with the agency and again for his asylum application in the U.S. A senior official confirmed he was ‘clean on all checks’ in his background screen. However, the incident has reignited debates about the security implications of admitting Afghan refugees under humanitarian parole.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced plans to review all green cards issued to immigrants from ‘country of concern’ nations, including Afghanistan, amid increased security measures. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General previously found ‘no systemic failures’ in Afghan refugee vetting processes. Nonetheless, this tragedy has underscored the need for enhanced scrutiny, particularly in light of the recent attacks and the suspected involvement of a former Afghan refugee.
As America mourns the loss of Sarah Beckstrom, the nation remains divided on how to balance humanitarian efforts with national security. The case of Rahmanullah Lakanwal has become a focal point for these debates, with calls for transparency and accountability in the immigration process. Despite the grief, the incident has also reinforced the honor and sacrifice of U.S. service members, who continue to serve with courage and dedication.