On November 27, 2025 (the day before Thanksgiving), two members of the West Virginia National Guard—U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, from Summersville, WV, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, from Martinsburg, WV—were shot in an apparent ambush-style attack while on a high-visibility patrol near the White House in downtown Washington, D.C. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. ET, just blocks from the White House, during their deployment as part of the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission,” a Trump administration initiative to deploy troops for crime crackdown and public safety patrols. Both victims were critically injured and underwent surgery; Beckstrom succumbed to her wounds the following day, November 28, while Wolfe remains in critical condition as of the latest reports.
The suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 42-year-old Afghan national and former CIA-supported anti-Taliban operative who resettled in the U.S. in 2021, allegedly drove cross-country from Washington state armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. He opened fire without provocation, striking Beckstrom twice and Wolfe multiple times, before being wounded in an exchange of gunfire with a third Guard member and taken into custody. Lakanwal, who lived in Bellingham, WA, with his wife and five children and had no prior U.S. criminal record, is hospitalized in serious but non-life-threatening condition. He faces initial charges of assault with intent to kill and firearm possession during a violent crime, with one count expected to be upgraded to first-degree murder following Beckstrom’s death. The FBI is investigating potential terrorism motives, including possible grievances related to his Afghan background and U.S. immigration vetting.
President Donald Trump, speaking from Mar-a-Lago during a Thanksgiving call with U.S. troops, announced Beckstrom’s death, describing her as a “highly respected, young, magnificent person” who “gave the ultimate sacrifice” after volunteering for holiday duty in D.C. He attributed the attack to “Biden-era immigration vetting failures” and ordered a review of Afghan asylum cases. Trump also spoke directly with Beckstrom’s parents. West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey called Beckstrom’s service one of “courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty.” A dignified transfer of Beckstrom’s remains occurred on November 27 evening, attended by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and multiple agencies, with salutes from fellow Guard members, Metropolitan Police, Secret Service, and DEA agents. Vigils were held in Webster Springs, WV, and her family spent Thanksgiving at her bedside.
Background on the Victims
• Sarah Beckstrom: Enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard on June 26, 2023 (or June 6 per some reports), assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade. She joined right after high school, driven by a sense of duty, and was known among peers for her professionalism and selflessness. Despite initial reluctance about the D.C. deployment (where she noted public hostility toward the Guard’s presence), she grew to enjoy sightseeing at museums and memorials. Her father, Gary Beckstrom (not Jason as in some unverified reports), posted on Facebook: “My baby girl has passed to glory,” expressing the family’s grief. Friends and her former boyfriend described her as loving, caring, and community-oriented, with a bright smile that lit up rooms. She volunteered for Thanksgiving duty to serve strangers in D.C.
• Andrew Wolfe: Enlisted in the West Virginia Air National Guard on February 5, 2019, assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing. A more seasoned Guardsman, he had earned multiple service medals and was known for his reliability. Friends, including Brooke Davison from a local cornhole league, remembered him as dependable and outgoing. Deployed to D.C. since August 2025, he was on patrol with Beckstrom when shot. As of November 28, he is “fighting for his life” in the hospital, with officials providing full support to his family.
Both were recently deputized for patrols less than 24 hours before the shooting and were in uniform at the time.
Broader Context and Response
The attack has intensified debates on military safety in urban settings, immigration vetting (especially for Afghan evacuees post-2021 withdrawal), and the role of National Guard deployments in domestic policing. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro described it as a “brazen” ambush, emphasizing the victims’ heroism. FBI Director Kash Patel noted interviews with Lakanwal’s family revealed no immediate red flags, but the probe continues. Public response includes outpourings of grief, with Trump praising the Guard’s “One Guard Family” bonds. No motive has been confirmed, but officials are exploring Lakanwal’s past as a security specialist for U.S.-backed forces in Afghanistan.
