National Guard Member Dies After DC Shooting: Trump Administration Vows Immigration Crackdown

In a tragic turn of events that has sent shockwaves through Washington DC and the nation, 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, has died following a targeted shooting near the White House on Wednesday afternoon. The incident has sparked intense debate over immigration policy and military deployment in the nation's capital.

Breaking: Details of the Washington DC Shooting Incident

The shooting occurred at approximately 2:00 PM EST on Wednesday, November 27, 2025, near Farragut Square in downtown Washington DC, just blocks from the White House. Two National Guard members, Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, were on high-visibility patrol when they were ambushed at close range near the intersection of 17th and I Streets.

President Donald Trump announced Specialist Beckstrom's death during a Thanksgiving call with US service members on Thursday evening, describing her as "outstanding in every single way" and a "magnificent person." Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition, fighting for his life following emergency surgery.

Who Are the Victims?

Sarah Beckstrom enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard on June 26, 2023, and was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company. The 20-year-old from Summersville, West Virginia, had volunteered to serve in Washington DC over the Thanksgiving holiday as part of Operation DC Safe and Beautiful. According to her former boyfriend, Carr, Beckstrom had grown to enjoy her deployment and even volunteered to extend her service, visiting monuments and museums during her free time. She had aspirations of joining the FBI and believed her National Guard service would help her achieve that goal.

Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, from Martinsburg, West Virginia, serves with the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard. He joined thehttps://www.childrenstorytales.com Guard on February 5, 2019, and has been assigned to the Force Support Squadron. His father, Jason Wolfe, has asked for prayers, describing his son as "a great person" and "a fighter."

Afghan National Identified as Shooting Suspect

The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome following the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Lakanwal worked alongside US forces, including the CIA, beginning around 2011. He was granted asylum by the Trump administration in April 2025.

Suspect's Background Raises Security Questions

According to FBI Director John Ratcliffe and senior US officials, Lakanwal had been thoroughly vetted multiple times throughout his relationship with US forces. He was "clean on all checks" both before working with the government and again before entering the United States. The CIA conducted its own vetting through various databases, including the National Counterterrorism Center, to verify he had no ties to terrorist organizations.

A former military commander who served with Lakanwal told the BBC that the suspect was a GPS tracker specialist with Unit 03 of the Kandahar Strike Force, locally known as Scorpion Forces. The unit initially operated under CIA control before transitioning to Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security. Lakanwal's unit was relocated from Kandahar to Kabul just five days before the Taliban entered the capital and continued protecting the airport before being evacuated to the United States.

Trump Administration's Swift Response and Immigration Crackdown

President Trump wasted no time using the shooting to justify an intensified immigration crackdown. On Thursday evening, he announced plans to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" and end federal benefits to non-citizens. The administration has also ordered reviews of all asylum cases approved under the Biden administration and reexamination of green cards issued to individuals from 19 countries designated as "countries of concern."

The 19 countries on the review list include Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Venezuela, Yemen, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Laos, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Turkmenistan. US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow confirmed that processing of all immigration requests from Afghan nationals has been halted indefinitely pending security protocol reviews.

Additional Military Deployment and Venezuela Tensions

In the wake of the shooting, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guard troops would be deployed to Washington DC, despite a federal judge recently ruling that Trump's months-long deployment of thousands of National Guard forces to the capital may be illegal. More than 2,000 troops have been patrolling the city since August as part of Trump's effort to combat what he characterizes as "out of control" crime.

On Thanksgiving Day, Trump also announced that the United States would "very soon" take action against alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking networks "by land," signaling potential military intervention in South America. This announcement came alongside ongoing US naval operations in the Caribbean, where the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford has been positioned near Venezuelan waters.

Political Reactions and Community Response

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey and Republican Senator Jim Justice expressed devastation over Beckstrom's death. Justice stated, "Our prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen during an incredibly difficult Thanksgiving Day." Webster County High School, where Beckstrom graduated in 2023, released a statement praising her "strength, character, and commitment."

Attorney General Pam Bondi vowed that the suspect, whom she called a "monster who should not have been in our country," would face the death penalty. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro initially announced charges of three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, noting that murder charges would follow if the victims did not survive.

What Happens Next?

The investigation continues under the leadership of the FBI and local law enforcement. A dignified transfer ceremony was held Thursday evening, with National Guard members, Metropolitan Police, DC Fire, Secret Service, and DEA agents lining the streets as Beckstrom's remains were transported to the medical examiner. Defense Secretary Hegseth attended the ceremony to honor the fallen service member.

President Trump spoke with Beckstrom's parents and indicated he would consider attending her funeral, stating, "Ithttps://www.childrenstorytales.com certainly is something I could conceive of. I love West Virginia." Vigils have been held in Webster Springs, West Virginia, with community members describing Beckstrom as "so sweet" and remembering her kind spirit.

The Trump administration has also announced it is considering deporting Lakanwal's family, who reside in Bellingham, Washington. The suspect lived with his wife and children before the shooting incident.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the DC National Guard shooting?

On November 27, 2025, two West Virginia National Guard members were shot at close range near Farragut Square in downtown Washington DC. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries, while Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

Who is the suspect in the shooting?

The suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who arrived in the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome after working with US forces, including the CIA. He was granted asylum in April 2025.

Why were National Guard troops in Washington DC?

More than 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington DC since August 2025 as part of President Trump's initiative to combat crime in the nation's capital. The deployment's legality is currently being challenged in federal court.

What changes is Trump making to immigration policy?

Trump announced plans to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries," review all asylum cases approved under Biden, and reexamine green cards from 19 countries of concern. Immigration processing for Afghan nationals has been halted indefinitely.

Will there be more troops deployed to DC?

Yes, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that 500 additional National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington DC following the shooting incident.

This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available. Our thoughts remain with the families of the victims and all those affected by this tragedy.

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