US President Donald Trump confirms National Guard troop Sarah Beckstrom has died after White House shooting; second guard critical. Photos: X.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday (US time) confirmed that Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two West Virginia National Guard troops shot near the White House on Wednesday, has died from her injuries.
“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,” Trump said while addressing reporters.
The President added that the second troop remains in critical condition, saying he is in “very bad shape” and “fighting for his life”.
“Hopefully, we will get better news with respect to him,” he added.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey also announced Beckstrom’s death, expressing grief over the loss in a statement posted on X.
“A few moments ago, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom passed away from the injuries sustained during yesterday’s horrific shooting. This is not the result we hoped for, but it is the result we all feared,” he wrote.
The governor praised her dedication, saying, “Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation. She answered the call to serve, stepped forward willingly, and carried out her mission with the strength and character that define the very best of the West Virginia National Guard.”
Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, were on patrol just blocks from the White House on November 26, one day before Thanksgiving, when a gunman opened fire, triggering national shock and renewed debate over security.
President Trump was not present at the White House at the time of the shooting.
Trump also provided an update on the alleged gunman, calling him a “monster” and saying the suspect is in “serious condition”.
The suspect has been identified as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a programme launched under the Biden administration.
While addressing the media, Trump used the incident to sharply criticise the current administration, saying,
“As you know, the DHS has confirmed that the suspect is an Afghan national flown here by the previous administration, who was such a bad administration.”
Also Read: Trump Launches Green Card Review After National Guard Shooting- See Which 19 Countries Are Affected
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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