Sarah Beckstrom, Webster Springs, West Virginia National Guard member critically injured in D.C shooting at hands of Afghan national shooter. As her family update she is now going to die.
The female West Virginia National Guard member critically wounded in an ambush by an Afhgan refugee Wednesday had volunteered to work that day so others could spend Thanksgiving with their families.
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was identified as the second West Virginia National Guard member critically wounded following Wednesday afternoon’s attack which also left 24-year-old, Andrew Wolfe critically wounded.
West Virginia 24 year old National Guard shot at Washington D.C identified
🚨BREAKING: Both of the National Guard soldiers who were shot in DC have made it through surgery, and are with their families. PRAY!
🚨 The two have been IDENTIFIED as Sarah Beckstrom (20) and Andrew Wolfe (24), of West Virginia.
“They both came through surgery. I’m not going… pic.twitter.com/RejPRuk4b9
— David Medina 🦫🇺🇸 (@davidmedinapdx) November 27, 2025
D.C ambush attack near White House at hands of Afghan national refugee
‘She volunteered to be there on Thanksgiving — working today — she volunteers, as did many of those guardsmen and women so other people could be home with their families,’ US Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News early Thursday.
‘Yet now, their families are in hospital rooms with them while they are fighting for their lives.’
Both Beckstrom and Wolfe had undergone surgery and were in critical condition.
Both Beckstrom and Wolfe were ‘sworn in’ less than 24 hours before they were shot said U.S. Attorney General of the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro during a Thursday press briefing.
They sustained the life-threatening injuries when Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, allegedly opened fire near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC in what’s being probed as a possible terrorist attack.
Webster Springs West Virginia National Guard member not expected to survive
In the aftermath of the shooting it was revealed that Beckstrom would not survive her injuries.
Her father Gary told NYT, ‘I’m holding her hand right now. She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.’
Lakanwal allegedly ambushed the two National Guard members near the White House, lying in wait before opening fire. He was shot by return fire from other guard members.
His motive is not yet clear, but authorities are probing it as a targeted terrorist attack.
Afghan national shooter had been granted approval for asylum status
Lakanwal was a member of the Afghan Army stationed in Kandahar where he supported US Special Forces in the region, a relative told NBC News.
Lakanwal was offered a short term visa by then President Biden’s program to assist vulnerable Afghan locals, with the 29-year-old immigrating to the U.S in 2021 during the U.S pullout from the war torn Middle East nation.
He applied for asylum in December 2024 and was approved on April 23 of this year — and had no known criminal history, a Trump admin official told Reuters.
