The father of a West Virginia National Guardsman, who tragically lost her life following the shooting incidents in Washington, D.C., shared his grief in a heartfelt message on Thanksgiving.
Gary Beckstrom, father of Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the National Guard, posted on Facebook, saying, “My baby girl is in glory. Please don’t be offended if I don’t talk about it. This was a terrible tragedy.”
The young soldier had been in critical condition after sustaining gunshot wounds during the attack, despite the medical efforts to save her.
Meanwhile, Andrew Wolfe, who was also shot multiple times, remains hospitalized and in critical condition. He was working alongside Beckstrom near the Farragut West subway station when the incident occurred.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Rakamal, an Afghan national. He was admitted to the United States through a program designated for those who assisted U.S. efforts during the war on terror.
Reports indicate that he used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver to carry out the attack. Rakamal had reportedly traveled from Bellingham, Washington, where he lived with his wife and children.
On the day preceding Beckstrom’s death, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had announced the termination of plans for bringing Rakamal to the U.S.
Noem noted on X that the suspect, who shot the National Guardsman, was among many Afghan nationals who were released on mass parole without proper evaluation by the Biden administration under Operation Welcoming Allies.
Noem didn’t shy away from criticizing those who refer to federal immigration enforcement as “fascism” or “authoritarianism.” She emphasized that the National Guard consists of devoted individuals fulfilling essential public safety duties.
She stated, “These men and women in the National Guard are mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters, and children of God, carrying out basic public safety and immigration laws that have been in place for decades.”
Noem went as far as to suggest that politicians and media should reevaluate their negative narratives about the military personnel serving the country.
In remarks made Thursday, former President Donald Trump called the shooting suspect a “monster.”
Earlier in the week, CIA Director John Ratcliffe expressed his frustration over the Biden administration’s strategy for relocating Afghan nationals, stating that individuals like Rakamal should never have been allowed into the country.
Ratcliffe asserted that American citizens and military personnel deserve better than the consequences stemming from what he called the Biden administration’s considerable missteps.
As reported previously, hours after the shooting, the Trump administration ordered an immediate halt to processing immigration applications for Afghan nationals.
Additionally, Trump demanded a thorough review of green card applications that were approved during the Biden administration for certain nationals deemed “high risk.”
Contributor Lowell Corfiel is a bestselling author known for crime fiction and nonfiction.
