Tragic Death of National Guard Member in DC Attack
President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that a National Guard member was killed during an incident in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, just moments before I could continue, I heard from Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia, a highly respected and talented young woman who began her service in June 2023. Sadly, she has recently passed away. She is no longer with us,” he stated.
The shooting took place near the White House, which is currently on lockdown, as reported by Breitbart News.
The individual charged with attacking Beckstrom and another security guard is 29-year-old Rahmanullah Rakanwar, who was apprehended following the incident.
Janine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, noted that both Beckstrom and Andrew Wolf, 24, were members of the West Virginia National Guard, deployed under an executive order by Trump to secure the capital. Notably, both soldiers had been sworn in less than a day before the attack.
Pirro also mentioned that Rakanwar, who entered the U.S. in September 2021 through Operation Welcoming Allies after the Afghanistan withdrawal, used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver to carry out the attack. She referred to the shooting as targeted, pointing out that Rakanwar traveled across the country from his residence in Bellingham, Washington, specifically to target the nation’s capital.
Trump condemned the attack, describing it as “a heinous assault, an act of evil, an act of hatred, an act of terrorism. It is a crime against our country and humanity. Tonight, the American people stand with those two West Virginia National Guard members and their families.”
In a follow-up, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for the suspects involved.
While reflecting on Beckstrom’s tragic death, Trump remarked, “She’s looking down on us right now. Her parents are with her. This just happened. She was viciously attacked. She’s dead. She’s not with us. She was an incredible person, outstanding in every department. It’s terrible.”
