President Donald Trump announced the death of U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of West Virginia, while speaking to service members on Thanksgiving. He added that U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, also from West Virginia, remains in critical condition and is “fighting for his life.”
Both Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House the day before Thanksgiving.
“My baby girl has passed to glory,” Beckstrom’s father Gary wrote on Facebook. “If I don’t talk to you don’t be offend this has been a horrible tragedy.”
The suspect in custody has been identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, according to three law enforcement sources who spoke with Fox News.
Lakanwal reportedly entered the United States legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program following the chaotic and deadly U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” Trump wrote on Truth Social the day of the shootings.
“God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” he added.
Later, he wrote in another post along with a photo of hundreds of Afghan citizens crammed into a U.S. Air Force transport plane: “This is part of the horrendous airlift from Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of people poured into our Country totally unvetted and unchecked. We will fix it, but will never forget what Crooked Joe Biden and his Thugs did to our Country!”
Trump also announced an immediate change in U.S. immigration policy.
“I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization,” he wrote on Truth Social after Beckstrom succumbed to her wounds.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also addressed the attack on the X platform.
“Lord, grant Sarah’s family strength, healing and comfort,” he wrote.
“She led a life of patriotism, service and sacrifice, and we will not rest until we bring the hand of justice to her attacker,” he continued. “Her sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Bongino added: “God bless America, and all of those patriots and heroes who defend Her.”
Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said he is seeking additional information from the CIA after the agency’s director confirmed that the suspected gunman in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., had worked with U.S. government agencies, including the CIA, while in Afghanistan.
“I am horrified by yesterday’s tragic shooting of two national guardsmen in Washington, DC,” Himes said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and their fellow service members in the wake of this horrendous attack. There is still much to be learned about the perpetrator and his motives. I have requested more information from the CIA following Director Ratcliffe’s announcement this morning, and I expect to briefed when Congress returns next week.”