A West Virginia National Guard member has passed away following an incident near the White House on Wednesday, according to officials.
Authorities identified the service member as 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was critically injured during what investigators described as a targeted attack in downtown Washington, D.C. Leaders confirmed her death on Thursday.
Former President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged the news, noting he was briefed shortly before speaking to the public. He described Beckstrom as a respected young service member who had recently begun her military duties.
A second Guard member, 24-year-old Specialist Andrew Wolfe, remains hospitalized in critical condition and continues to receive intensive medical care. Both soldiers had been sworn into active duty less than a day before the incident. Beckstrom was from Webster Springs, while Wolfe is from Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Federal officials said the individual taken into custody is 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal. According to preliminary information released by multiple agencies, he entered the United States in 2021 through a federal resettlement program established to assist eligible Afghan partners following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Authorities said he later lived in Bellingham, Washington, with his family.
Investigators noted that Lakanwal previously served in an Afghan military unit that worked alongside U.S. forces. They also confirmed that he had applied for asylum in 2024 and was approved the following year. However, officials stated that his legal permission to remain in the country expired in 2025, and he had not renewed his documentation at the time of the incident.
Some witnesses reported hearing the suspect speak in a foreign language during the event, though federal agencies have not confirmed these accounts. The FBI has opened a counterterrorism inquiry, but officials emphasize that no final determination regarding motive has been made.
The shooting occurred near the Farragut Metro Station, close to the White House. Officials said several rounds were fired and that the confrontation escalated into an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was injured before being taken into custody and is currently hospitalized. Investigators say he has not cooperated with questioning.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey expressed deep condolences to the families of the affected service members, noting the emotional toll on the Guard community. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb also issued a statement calling the incident a tragic moment for the city and the nation.
Federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and military intelligence, continue to examine the suspect’s background and the circumstances leading up to the incident. A search warrant was executed at his Washington State residence as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities will release additional verified information as their findings progress.
