National Guard member dies, second “fighting for his life” after D.C. shooting, Trump says

One of two West Virginia National Guard members who were injured Wednesday in what authorities described like an ambush shot in Washington, D.C., has died, President Trump said Thursday, and the second Guard member is “fighting for his life.”

Mr. Trump told reporters Thursday evening that 20-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died in hospital.

“Right now, I’ve heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guards that we’re talking about, a very respected person, young, beautiful, started her service in June 2023, remarkable in every way, she just passed away,” Mr. Trump said.

A White House official later said the president spoke with Beckstrom’s parents Thursday evening.

Earlier Thursday, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the second victim, 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt., was injured. Andrew Wolfe was in critical condition after undergoing surgery.

Mr Trump told reporters that Wolfe was “fighting for his life, he’s in very bad shape”.

“I hope we get better news on him,” Mr. Trump added.

Mr. Trump also said that suspect in shootingpreviously identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was in serious condition.

Pirro said Thursday that the two Guard members were sworn in less than 24 hours before the attack. The National Guard’s joint task force for the district later clarified that the two men had served in the district since August and had been instructed before the attack to maintain their patrol status.

Although they were designated for deployment, the two Guard members were not operating as law enforcement and did not have arrest powers, multiple sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News Wednesday evening.