Twenty-year-old West Virginia National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom has died after being shot near the White House, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Thanksgiving while addressing military personnel. Beckstrom’s parents were reportedly at her side when she passed away. She had been deployed to Washington, DC, as part of the West Virginia Army National Guard and had volunteered for duty over the Thanksgiving holidays.
Beckstrom was a native of Summersville, West Virginia, and began her military service on June 6, 2023. She was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade. Friends and family described her as someone who loved road trips, nature and spending time with loved ones. She had joined the National Guard with hopes of eventually becoming an FBI agent.
According to her former boyfriend, Adam Carr, Beckstrom had initially been hesitant about her deployment to Washington but gradually adjusted to the assignment. She explored museums and national memorials during her time off — experiences she didn’t have access to back home in West Virginia — and found comfort when she was around people who cared about her.
The shooting also critically injured 24-year-old US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was struck at close range. Police have arrested 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal in connection with the attack. Intelligence officials later stated Lakanwal had previously served for years in one of the CIA’s most secretive Afghan combat units.
The deadly incident occurred months after President Trump ordered National Guard deployments to Washington to reinforce local law enforcement and respond to rising crime in the city. Beckstrom’s death has added fuel to the escalating national debate over security, immigration and troop deployments inside the US.
