The shooting near the White House on Wednesday has left the nation stunned, as new details reveal the terrifying moments that unfolded just two blocks from one of the most secure areas in the world.
The young victims—20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe—were ambushed while on patrol, leading authorities and the FBI to investigate the attack as a likely act of terrorism.
Late Thursday night, President Donald Trump announced that Beckstrom had died from her injuries.
Chaos in the Heart of D.C.
The violence erupted Wednesday afternoon near the Farragut metro station in Washington, D.C. Witnesses described sudden gunfire shortly after 2 p.m. as commuters scattered and emergency vehicles flooded the area.
Beckstrom and Wolfe, both members of the National Guard, were on duty when 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly opened fire with a .357 Magnum revolver. Beckstrom was struck in the head and chest. Wolfe was also shot—hit with Beckstrom’s own weapon during the struggle.
A third Guardsman managed to engage the shooter with nothing but a pocketknife until a fourth service member intervened and ultimately stopped the attacker by shooting him in the leg and buttocks.
D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro later revealed that the two young Guardsmen had been sworn in “less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street in Washington.”
Both were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
A Devastating Update
Specialist Beckstrom’s father, Gary Beckstrom, shared heartbreaking news with The New York Times, explaining that her injuries were irreversible: “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.”
Hours later, during a Thanksgiving call with U.S. service members, President Trump confirmed her passing.
“She’s just passed away,” he told troops. “She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her.”
He described Beckstrom as “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way.”
Staff Sergeant Wolfe remains hospitalized, fighting for his life.
Details About the Suspected Gunman
According to sources who spoke with the Associated Press, the alleged shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, served in a CIA-backed Afghan military unit before immigrating to the United States. The motive behind the attack is still under investigation.
When reporters asked President Trump whether he intended to attend Beckstrom’s funeral, he replied, “It is certainly something I could conceive of,” before adding a remark that raised eyebrows: “I love West Virginia, and I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere.”
Multiple reporters in the room reportedly reacted to the comment, which seemed out of place following the announcement of a young soldier’s death.
A Community in Mourning
In Beckstrom’s hometown of Webster Springs, West Virginia, community members are grieving deeply. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post announced prayer vigils to honor her service and memory.
“Our hearts are absolutely broken to share that Sarah has passed away from the injuries she sustained in the D.C. attack,” the post read. “There are no words big enough for this loss… We will still be gathering for the community vigils—now to honor Sarah’s memory, to lift up her family, and to pray for the other service member who remains injured.”
Residents have been encouraged to wear blue ribbons—Beckstrom’s symbolic color—to show support for her family.
Funeral details have not yet been released.
