What was meant to be a routine holiday call with American service members took a heartbreaking turn when President Donald Trump shared devastating news.
Just moments before speaking, he learned that 20-year-old National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom had died from the injuries she suffered in what authorities are calling a terror attack in Washington D.C.
A Young Soldier Ambushed Near the White House
Beckstrom and fellow West Virginia Guardsman Andrew Wolfe had been on duty near the White House on Wednesday night when they were suddenly fired upon.
Both were rushed to the hospital, but by Thursday evening, the worst fears for Beckstrom were realized.
The President Shares the Loss Live
During the livestreamed Thanksgiving call, Trump’s voice carried the weight of the moment as he told viewers that Beckstrom had “just passed away.”
He described her as remarkable, admired, and exceptional in every way, saying her death was both “horrible” and “savage.”
The announcement clearly came as a fresh blow; he emphasized learning the news only seconds before speaking.
A Father Holding On for the Final Moments
Earlier in the day, Beckstrom’s father, Gary Beckstrom, revealed the grim prognosis while sitting beside his daughter’s hospital bed.
“She has a mortal wound,” he said quietly to The New York Times.
He had been holding her hand as doctors confirmed there was no path to recovery.
West Virginia Leaders Honor Her Service
West Virginia’s Governor, Patrick Morrisey, issued a solemn tribute, calling the loss “the result we all feared.”
He praised Beckstrom’s courage, dedication, and willingness to serve, noting that she embodied the best of the state’s National Guard.
He pledged that the state would carry her family and fellow soldiers in their prayers “as they grieve what no family should ever have to bear.”
Tributes From the Pentagon
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also offered condolences, describing Beckstrom as an “American hero” and urging the nation to pray for her loved ones during a holiday that had now turned bitterly painful for her family.
The Suspect: A Complicated Past
The man accused of opening fire, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, remained hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
His background is a complex one: he arrived in the U.S. in 2021 after working with CIA-backed forces during the Afghanistan war.
His temporary visa later expired, and he was granted asylum in April 2025 under the Trump administration.
Friends say he struggled with severe trauma tied to the violence he witnessed and carried out, describing him as deeply affected whenever he encountered blood or injury.
A Cross-Country Journey Before the Shooting
Authorities say Lakanwal drove all the way from his home in Bellingham, Washington—where he lived near the Canadian border with his wife and five children—to D.C.
He allegedly used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver to shoot the two Guardsmen just 800 yards from the White House.
Charges Expected to Escalate
Before Beckstrom’s passing, DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro had announced that Lakanwal was being charged with assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a violent crime.
She made it clear the charges would escalate to first-degree murder if either soldier died.
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