In a heartbreaking update to the violent ambush in downtown Washington, D.C., officials have confirmed that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, has died from her injuries. Meanwhile, her colleague, U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition fighting for his life.
The announcement clarifies earlier conflicting reports from West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, who had initially stated that both service members had perished. Governor Morrisey retracted that statement late Thursday, issuing a correction alongside a somber confirmation of Beckstrom’s passing. “This is not the result we hoped for, but it is the result we all feared,” Morrisey said. “Spc. Beckstrom served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty.”
Spc. Beckstrom, a resident of Summersville, West Virginia, served as a military police soldier with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade. She had deployed to the capital in August as part of the federal “Safe and Beautiful” mission. President Donald Trump, speaking during a Thanksgiving call to troops, paid tribute to the young soldier, describing her as a “magnificent person” who was “savagely attacked” while protecting the nation’s capital.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, is assigned to the 167th Airlift Wing. He underwent emergency surgery on Wednesday and remains in the intensive care unit. President Trump noted that Wolfe is “in very bad shape” and asked the nation to pray for his recovery.
The tragedy stems from a brazen daylight attack near Farragut Square on Wednesday, where authorities say 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal approached the uniformed soldiers and opened fire. Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation, was subdued by other Guard members and remains in custody.
The incident has shaken the National Guard community and reignited fierce debate over vetting procedures for evacuees. As flags in West Virginia are lowered to half-staff, the focus remains on supporting the grieving Beckstrom family and hoping for a miracle for Sgt. Wolfe.
