National Guard Soldier Dies After Shooting Near White House
US National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom has died from injuries sustained when a suspected Afghan immigrant opened fire near the White House. President Donald Trump confirmed the death of the 20-year-old soldier who was shot alongside Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe in Wednesday’s incident.
Key Details
- Victim: Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, West Virginia National Guard
- Suspect: Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29-year-old Afghan national
- Location: Near White House, Washington DC
- Charges: FBI investigating as “act of terrorism”
Trump’s Response and Immigration Comments
President Trump blamed the Biden administration for the suspect’s entry into the US in 2021, calling the situation “total bedlam.” Displaying a picture of a crowded plane, Trump stated only the “toughest and meanest” people were coming to America rather than those “the US wanted.”
“The suspect is an Afghan national flown here by the previous Administration… We have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country. For the most part, we don’t want them.”
Political Reaction
New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani expressed devastation over Beckstrom’s death, noting the tragedy occurred as families prepared for Thanksgiving celebrations.
“I’m devastated to learn of the passing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard. She was only twenty years old. As families across the nation come together today to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to think of those in West Virginia who have been plunged into unimaginable grief.”
