Sarah Beckstrom, one of many West Virginia Nationwide Guard members shot in a cowardly ambush by an Afghan refugee, has died.
President Trump introduced the passing of the 20-year-old throughout a Thanksgiving night deal with.
“She’s simply handed away. She’s not with us. She’s trying down at us proper now,” Trump stated.
Beckstrom had been listed in crucial situation after being shot within the chest and the top.
She was rushed into emergency surgical procedure following the surprising assault, however her prognosis remained bleak.
Her father was sure Beckstrom would succumb to her wounds when reached by The New York Occasions on Thanksgiving Day.
“I’m holding her hand proper now,” Gary Beckstrom stated.
“She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a restoration.”
Authorities are anticipated to pursue first-degree homicide prices, amongst a litany of others, in opposition to Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who they are saying sprang on Beckstrom and her fellow troopers close to the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC Wednesday.
Andrew Wolfe, 24, was additionally shot within the assault. Like Beckstrom, Wolfe was rushed into emergency surgical procedure and remains to be hospitalized.
The pair had been sworn in for his or her duties simply 24 hours earlier, in accordance with US Legal professional Jeanine Pirro.
Based on US Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi, Beckstrom had supplied herself as much as work the vacation shifts in order that others might spend Thanksgiving at residence.
“She volunteered to be there on Thanksgiving — working at this time — she volunteered, as did lots of these guardsmen and girls, so different folks could possibly be residence with their households,” Bondi stated Thursday morning.
“But now, their households are in hospital rooms with them whereas they’re preventing for his or her lives.”
Lakanwal, 29, allegedly ambushed the 2 Nationwide Guard members close to the White Home, mendacity in wait earlier than opening hearth with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver.
He was shot by return hearth from different guard members.
His motive shouldn’t be but clear, however authorities are probing it as a focused terrorist assault.
Based on Pirro, Lakanwal drove throughout the nation to hold out horror, leaving his residence in Bellingham, Washington, which he shares together with his spouse and 5 kids.
Lakanwal was a member of the Afghan Military stationed in Kandahar the place he supported US Particular Forces within the area, a relative informed NBC Information.
He got here to the US in the course of the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, utilized for asylum in December 2024 and was authorised on April 23 of this yr — and had no recognized legal historical past, a Trump admin official informed Reuters.
