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Father Confirms National Guard Member Will Not Survive After D.C. Shooting
Washington D.C. – A cloud of grief hangs heavy over the nation’s capital and a small West Virginia community today, as the father of a National Guard member shot on duty yesterday confirmed his daughter’s injuries are fatal.
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Webster Springs, West Virginia, was one of two soldiers targeted in a shooting yesterday afternoon in Washington D.C. While initial reports indicated she was in critical condition and had undergone surgery, her father, Gary Beckstrom, delivered the devastating update Thursday, telling the New York Times, “She has a mortal wound, it’s not going to be a recovery.
I’m holding her hand right now.” Beckstrom was reportedly struck in the chest and head.
The second injured soldier has been identified as Andrew Wolfe. A man at his home, presumably a family member, requested privacy and prayers for his son.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, highlighted the tragic timing of the incident during a press conference, stating, “I also want to say that both Sarah and Andrew, I believe, were sworn in less than 24 hours before they were shot on the street in Washington.” Pirro added that the suspected shooter would face first-degree murder charges if either soldier does not survive.
Authorities have identified Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, as the suspect in custody. Lakanwal was also injured in the shooting, though his injuries are not considered life-threatening. He is believed to have traveled from Bellingham, Washington state, and authorities are working to establish a motive for what they have called a “targeted attack.”
Further details reveal Lakanwal is believed to have entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden-era asylum program “Operation Allies Welcome,” which expedited asylum applications for Afghan nationals following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was officially granted asylum in April 2025, according to three law enforcement officials who spoke with ABC News.