What began as a routine afternoon assignment in the heart of Washington DC turned into a devastating loss for the family and friends of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom, the 20-year-old who was shot while on duty just steps from the White House.
She passed away on Thanksgiving evening, leaving behind a circle of people who describe her as gentle, driven, and determined to make the world a little better.
Her fellow Guardsman, Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was attacked alongside her, is still fighting for his life in the hospital.
‘She Just Wanted to Do Good’ — A Former Boyfriend Remembers Her Heart
For Adam Carr, who dated Beckstrom for six years, the loss cuts deeply.
He says she often came home from duty frustrated by how she was treated by the very people she was serving.
Carr recalls her venting about being yelled at, spit on, and taunted — all while being told she had almost no power to intervene.
She would say things like, “People spit towards us, cuss at us, throw stuff, and we can’t do a thing.”
To her, it felt pointless to be deployed in DC if she wasn’t allowed to act when things went wrong.
Still, Carr says she kept showing up because she believed in contributing something meaningful, especially once she arrived in DC in August.
“She really wanted to make a difference,” he said softly.
Dreams of the FBI and a Life of Service
Beckstrom had joined the West Virginia National Guard back in 2023, with her sights set on one day working for the FBI.
Her assignment in the nation’s capital was supposed to be a step toward that future — not the end of it.
On Thursday night, her family gathered around her hospital bed, keeping watch through her final hours.
Her father held her hand as she slipped away.
A Young Woman Who Loved Road Trips, Quiet Mornings, and Caring for Others
Carr describes Beckstrom as someone who always put others before herself.
He remembers her sleepy, early-morning routine — dragging herself out of bed before dawn to pack him lunch even when she needed the rest.
He still pictures her in the kitchen, half-awake, making sandwiches and tossing snacks together while asking him what fruit he felt like that day.
“She had a huge heart,” he said. “One of the best people you could ever hope to meet.”
A Mid-Afternoon Ambush Leaves Two Guards Down
The attack happened around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to officials, Beckstrom and Wolfe were only a few blocks from the White House when a man later identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, allegedly opened fire on them.
Police returned fire and arrested him shortly afterward.
Authorities expect him to face first-degree murder charges.
The Gunman’s Background Sparks Fierce Political Accusations
Lakanwal came to the United States in 2021 after helping CIA-backed Special Forces in Afghanistan as part of the so-called Zero Unit.
He entered through Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden Administration’s program created after the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021.
While the program granted Afghans a two-year parole period followed by the option to apply for permanent status, Lakanwal applied in December 2024 and received approval on April 23, 2025, during the Trump Administration.
He has no criminal record and lives in Washington State with his five children.
Still, the tragedy has stirred anger and political finger-pointing, particularly from those who opposed the handling of Afghan evacuations.
Families of Fallen Service Members Weigh In
Among the voices speaking out is Darin Hoover, father of Staff Sgt. Darin “Taylor” Hoover, who was killed in the Abbey Gate bombing during the Kabul evacuation.
He believes the Biden Administration failed to properly vet those allowed into the country.
He told Fox News Digital that some evacuees may have entered the U.S. without any meaningful background checks — a claim echoed by Trump-aligned officials such as Kash Patel and Jeanine Pirro, though neither has offered evidence.
FBI sources have confirmed to Fox News Digital that the attack is being examined as a possible act of international terrorism.
Reactions From Former President Trump
Former President Trump spoke about Beckstrom during a livestream with military personnel, calling her “magnificent,” “highly respected,” and “outstanding in every way.”
“She’s gone,” he said. “She was savagely attacked… just horrible.”
A Promising Life Cut Short
Those who knew her best say Beckstrom died doing something she believed in, even when the job was harder — and at times harsher — than she expected.
Carr says he always wanted the best for her and can’t shake the feeling that she deserved far more than the violent end she met.
What remains now is grief, unanswered questions, and a growing national debate over how and why the attacker came to the United States — and whether her death could have been prevented.
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