WASHINGTON, D.C. (WDNews) One of the two National Guard members shot in downtown Washington on Wednesday has died, President Donald Trump said during a Thanksgiving call with service members.
President Trump said 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom “has just passed away. She’s no longer with us,” calling her a “highly respected, young, magnificent person.” Beckstrom, from West Virginia, enlisted on June 26, 2023, and had volunteered to work in the capital over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who told Fox News the guardsman stepped forward to help during the holiday period.
The second National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, “is fighting for his life,” the president said.
Both service members were shot at close range near Farragut Square just after 2 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The area’s proximity to the White House meant law enforcement officers were able to reach the scene quickly to treat the victims and apprehend the gunman.
Police arrested 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. He was shot four times while being taken into custody.
The investigation remains ongoing.
