One of the two members of the National Guard who were shot in Washington DC on Wednesday has died, US President Donald Trump confirmed. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while the second National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is fighting for his life, Trump said on Thursday evening.
Both were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown DC just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Police have arrested one suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan. On Friday, the US attorney for Washington DC announced the initial charges of assault against the suspect will be upgraded to murder in the first degree.
It is a premeditated murder. There was an ambush with a gun toward people who didn't know what was coming, Jeanine Pirro told Fox and Friends. And that is the homicide, and the murder that we're looking at right now.
The two soldiers who were attacked had been deployed to the American capital as part of the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on what it sees as rampant crime in several US cities. Trump confirmed Ms Beckstrom's death while on a Thanksgiving call with US service members. Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we're talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person... She's just passed away. She's no longer with us, he said.
The US president previously stated the attack underlined a significant national security threat. This incident has prompted a range of announcements from the Trump administration aimed at curbing migration from Afghanistan and other countries.
Officials said they would suspend processing all immigration requests from Afghans and re-examine green cards issued to individuals who migrated to the US from 19 countries. When asked by the BBC which countries were on the list, the agency pointed to a June proclamation by the White House that included Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.
On Thursday, Trump vowed to permanently pause migration to the US from all third world countries, without providing details of his plan or naming which countries might be affected.
Ms Beckstrom had enlisted on 26 June 2023 and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard. She had volunteered to work in Washington over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Jim Justice, a Republican senator from West Virginia, expressed his devastation over Ms Beckstrom's passing, stating, Our prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen during an incredibly difficult Thanksgiving Day. We are also lifting up Andrew Wolfe in prayer as he continues his journey to recovery.
Both soldiers had been on high-visibility patrol in downtown Washington. More than 2,000 troops have been guarding the nation's capital since August as part of a crackdown on perceived rises in crime. National Guard troops are a reservist force activated to serve, but they have limited powers and cannot enforce the law or make arrests.
The location of the shooting, just blocks from the White House, meant a number of law enforcement officials arrived quickly at the scene to treat the two victims and apprehend the shooter. The suspect was shot four times, law enforcement sources reported.
Authorities have revealed that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously worked alongside US military forces in Afghanistan, raising questions about the implications of the shooting on US foreign relations and national security. Following the attack, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Mr Lakanwal's connection to US forces, noting he had a relationship with partner forces during his prior service.
As this tragic story continues to unfold, both the National Guard community and the nation mourn the loss of a dedicated young serviceman while hoping for the recovery of her colleague, Andrew Wolfe.
Both were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown DC just after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Police have arrested one suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old from Afghanistan. On Friday, the US attorney for Washington DC announced the initial charges of assault against the suspect will be upgraded to murder in the first degree.
It is a premeditated murder. There was an ambush with a gun toward people who didn't know what was coming, Jeanine Pirro told Fox and Friends. And that is the homicide, and the murder that we're looking at right now.
The two soldiers who were attacked had been deployed to the American capital as part of the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on what it sees as rampant crime in several US cities. Trump confirmed Ms Beckstrom's death while on a Thanksgiving call with US service members. Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we're talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person... She's just passed away. She's no longer with us, he said.
The US president previously stated the attack underlined a significant national security threat. This incident has prompted a range of announcements from the Trump administration aimed at curbing migration from Afghanistan and other countries.
Officials said they would suspend processing all immigration requests from Afghans and re-examine green cards issued to individuals who migrated to the US from 19 countries. When asked by the BBC which countries were on the list, the agency pointed to a June proclamation by the White House that included Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Somalia, and Venezuela.
On Thursday, Trump vowed to permanently pause migration to the US from all third world countries, without providing details of his plan or naming which countries might be affected.
Ms Beckstrom had enlisted on 26 June 2023 and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard. She had volunteered to work in Washington over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Jim Justice, a Republican senator from West Virginia, expressed his devastation over Ms Beckstrom's passing, stating, Our prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen during an incredibly difficult Thanksgiving Day. We are also lifting up Andrew Wolfe in prayer as he continues his journey to recovery.
Both soldiers had been on high-visibility patrol in downtown Washington. More than 2,000 troops have been guarding the nation's capital since August as part of a crackdown on perceived rises in crime. National Guard troops are a reservist force activated to serve, but they have limited powers and cannot enforce the law or make arrests.
The location of the shooting, just blocks from the White House, meant a number of law enforcement officials arrived quickly at the scene to treat the two victims and apprehend the shooter. The suspect was shot four times, law enforcement sources reported.
Authorities have revealed that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, had previously worked alongside US military forces in Afghanistan, raising questions about the implications of the shooting on US foreign relations and national security. Following the attack, FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Mr Lakanwal's connection to US forces, noting he had a relationship with partner forces during his prior service.
As this tragic story continues to unfold, both the National Guard community and the nation mourn the loss of a dedicated young serviceman while hoping for the recovery of her colleague, Andrew Wolfe.
