President Donald Trump announced Thursday that West Virginia National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, one of two soldiers shot near the White House the day before Thanksgiving, has died from her injuries. The president delivered the news moments after learning of her passing.
“I must unfortunately tell you that just seconds before I went on, right now I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we’re talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way, she’s just passed away. She’s no longer with us,” Trump said.
The shooting took place near the White House, prompting a lockdown, according to Breitbart News. Authorities identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was taken into custody at the scene.
Targeted Attack on Newly Sworn-In Guardsmen
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeannine Pirro said Beckstrom, 20, and fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, were both members of the West Virginia National Guard. They had been deployed under President Trump’s executive order to increase security in Washington, D.C., and had been sworn in less than 24 hours before the attack.
Pirro said Lakanwal—who entered the United States in September 2021 under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan—carried out the attack with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. She described the shooting as targeted, stating that Lakanwal drove across the country from Bellingham, Washington, specifically to reach the capital.
Trump Condemns Attack as “Crime Against Humanity”
In a national address following the shooting, Trump condemned the attack in severe terms. “This heinous assault was an act of evil and act of hatred and an act of terror. It was a crime against our entire nation. It was a crime against humanity. Americans tonight are with those two West Virginian National Guard and their families,” he said.
When announcing Beckstrom’s passing, Trump added, “She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. This just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead, she’s not with us. Incredible person, outstanding in every single way, in every department. It’s horrible.”
Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Lakanwal. “We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country,” she said, adding that formal charges would depend on the condition of the victims. With Beckstrom’s death, first-degree murder charges are expected to follow.
The attack has intensified national attention on public safety, immigration vetting, and the deployment of National Guard forces in the nation’s capital.
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Death penalty for sure and carry it out swiftly.