Tragic Shooting Claims Life of National Guard Member

Gary Beckstrom announced the death of his daughter, Sarah, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, through an emotional Facebook post on Thursday. He expressed his grief, stating, “My baby girl got all the glory. Don’t be offended if I don’t say, ‘This was a terrible tragedy.'”

The shooting incident took place in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, where Rahmanullah Rakanwal, an Afghan national, is identified as the suspect responsible for the attack that left Sarah Beckstrom dead and fellow security guard Andrew Wolf injured.

Investigation Underway as Victims are Identified

In a press statement made on Wednesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that the shooter was among many Afghan nationals released on mass parole without proper vetting during the Biden administration, specifically under Operation Welcoming Allies on September 8, 2021.

President Donald Trump condemned the attacker as a “monster” during his remarks on Thursday, also noting that Andrew Wolf was in “grave condition.” Trump emphasized that Sarah Beckstrom lost her life while Wolf was “fighting for his life.”

On the day of the shooting, a press release indicated that the incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. near the Farragut Square subway station. Sarah Beckstrom, age 20, and Andrew Wolf, age 24, were both killed while serving their duties.

Details about the Suspect Emerge

An undated photo of Rahmanullah Rakanwal, the accused shooter, has surfaced, and questions are arising about how the situation escalated to such violence. Families of the victims are left grappling with their emotions as they seek to understand the events that unfolded.

In the aftermath, a family member of Andrew Wolf shared their hope, stating, “All we need now is our son’s prayers.”