U.S. President Donald Trump announced the tragic death of National Guard member Sara Beckstrom, who was shot near the White House on Wednesday. This was reported by CNN during Trump's address to military personnel on Thanksgiving.
«Sara Beckstrom from West Virginia, one of the guards we mention, was an extraordinary, young, and respected individual who began her service in June 2023, and she excelled in every respect. She has just died», Trump stated.
He added that another guard, Andrew Wolf, who was injured during the shooting on November 26, is currently fighting for his life.
«He is in critical condition. He is fighting for his life. We hope to receive better news about him», Trump said.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey confirmed on social media X the death of 20-year-old Beckstrom due to the shooting.
«A few minutes ago, Specialist Sara Beckstrom died from injuries sustained in yesterday's horrific shooting. This is not the outcome we hoped for, but the one we all feared», Morrisey wrote.
Beckstrom's family spent Thanksgiving by her bedside, saying goodbye to her, as reported by The New York Times.
«I am holding her hand right now. She suffered a fatal injury. There will be no recovery», her father Gary Beckstrom told NYT over the phone on Thursday.
Specialist Beckstrom from Summersville, West Virginia, began her service on June 6, 2023, and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company of the 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia National Guard.
Sergeant Wolf from Martinsburg, West Virginia, enlisted on February 5, 2019, and was assigned to the support squadron of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia National Guard.
Both were deployed in Washington since August when Trump ordered troops to the capital as part of what his administration called a fight against crime.
Reports indicate that the shooting near the White House, which injured two guards, was perpetrated by a 29-year-old Afghan citizen named Rahmanullah Lakanwal.
The victims, guards identified as 20-year-old Sara Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolf, are reported to be in critical condition in the hospital, although earlier West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, from where the soldiers were deployed, stated that they had died from their injuries.