National Guard member dies after shooting in Washington DC

By Nile Post Editor | Friday, November 28, 2025
National Guard member dies after shooting in Washington DC
The attack has prompted a range of announcements from the Trump administration aimed at curbing migration from Afghanistan and a number of other countries.

BBC | One of the two members of the National Guard who were shot in Washington DC on Wednesday has died, US President Donald Trump said.

Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while the second National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, "is fighting for his life", Trump said on Thursday evening.

Both were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown DC just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Police have arrested one suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan.

The attack has prompted a range of announcements from the Trump administration aimed at curbing migration from Afghanistan and a number of other countries.

The two soldiers who were attacked had been deployed to the American capital as part of the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on what it sees as rampant crime in several US cities.

Trump confirmed Ms Beckstrom's death while on a Thanksgiving call with US service members.

"Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we're talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person... She's just passed away. She's no longer with us," he said.

Topics You Might Like

National Guard member dies after shooting in Washington DC News

Trump later spoke to her parents, a White House official told BBC's US partner CBS News.

The US president previously said the attack underlined a major national security threat.

In the wake of the incident, officials said they would suspend processing all immigration requests from Afghans, and to re-examine green cards issued to individuals who migrated to the US from 19 countries.

Trump has also vowed to "permanently pause migration" to the US from all "third world countries", without providing details of his plan or naming which countries might be affected.

Victim had volunteered to work at Thanksgiving

Ms Beckstrom had enlisted on 26 June 2023 and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard.

She had volunteered to work in Washington over the US holiday Thanksgiving, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News following the shooting.

Jim Justice, a Republican senator from West Virginia, said he was "absolutely devastated" to learn of Ms Beckstrom's passing.

"Our prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen during an incredibly difficult Thanksgiving Day," he said in a statement.

"We are also lifting up Andrew Wolfe in prayer as he continues his journey to recovery."

 

What’s your take on this story?

Get breaking news first — follow us

Get Ahead of the News.
Stay in the know with real-time breaking news alerts, exclusive reports, and updates that matter to you.

Tap ‘Yes, Keep Me Updated’ and never miss what’s happening in Uganda and beyond—first and fast from NilePost.