Before the West Virginia Mountaineers took the field against the fifth-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders in Morgantown on Saturday, attendees observed a moment of silence for two National Guard soldiers tragically killed in Washington, D.C. earlier in the week.
The crowd was asked to remain quiet in honor of 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant John Johnson and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, both of whom were identified as victims. Their images were shown on the scoreboard during this somber occasion.
These soldiers were shot near the White House while serving in the D.C. area. Beckstrom sadly passed away from her injuries, and Staff Sergeant Johnson also succumbed to his wounds, while Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition.
The alleged shooter, identified as Rahmanullah Rakanwar, a 29-year-old Afghan national, conducted the attack in broad daylight. Eyewitness accounts captured him—as the shooter dressed in black—approaching with a revolver while National Guard members sought safety.
During the chaos, one of the guards managed to return fire. According to Metro Police, other National Guard personnel heard the gunfire approximately three blocks away and apprehended Rakanwar after he was shot.
Federal charging documents indicate that the gunman let off 10 to 15 rounds using a .357 revolver. Rakanwar entered the U.S. in September 2021 under a program aimed at aiding Afghans following the evacuation efforts. Prosecutors noted he had traveled across the U.S. shortly before the incident and didn’t have a prior criminal record.
Facing charges of first-degree murder and two counts of armed assault with intent to cause harm, Rakanwar could potentially face the death penalty as indicated by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Stay updated on developments regarding the National Guard shooting in Washington, D.C.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were part of the West Virginia National Guard, deployed to Washington as part of an initiative responding to crime in the area following a directive from President Trump.
Representative Riley Moore shared on “Fox & Friends Weekend” that Wolfe is “doing his best” and his family seeks prayers for his recovery. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey commented, saying that Wolfe is “fighting for his life,” and that it’s vital for them to gather support from across the nation.
“West Virginia takes security very seriously, and West Virginians have a proud tradition of stepping up from military service. So when something like this happens, it’s a real shock to the community,” Morrissey added.
As for the Mountaineers’ performance, they faced a tough game, losing 49-0 to the Red Raiders, who improved to 11-1, while West Virginia finished their season with 4 wins and 8 losses.
