On November 26, 2025, a somber incident unfolded just three blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., when two West Virginia National Guard members—U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24—were shot in what authorities have described as a targeted attack. The shooting, which occurred in broad daylight, has sent shockwaves through West Virginia and reverberated across the nation, highlighting both the valor and vulnerability of those who serve on the front lines of public safety.
According to Fox News and NPR, the suspected shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, entered the United States in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration’s Afghan evacuation and resettlement program. Federal charging documents cited by Reuters state that Lakanwal fired between 10 and 15 rounds with a .357 revolver before being apprehended by other National Guardsmen who heard the shots. Metro Police detained him after he was shot during the exchange. Lakanwal now faces charges of first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced that the Department of Justice intends to seek the death penalty.
Spc. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on November 27, 2025, while Staff Sgt. Wolfe remains hospitalized in very critical condition as of November 29. Both soldiers had been deployed to Washington, D.C., as part of an initiative to bolster public safety in response to a crime emergency declared by President Donald Trump. Hundreds of National Guard members from West Virginia and other states have joined the deployment, with another 500 called to D.C. following the attack, NPR reported. This increase in troop presence comes amid ongoing legal challenges; a federal judge recently ruled the deployment illegal, but the administration has been given time to appeal.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey responded swiftly to the tragedy, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Beckstrom and requesting a statewide moment of silence or prayer on November 28. “These two West Virginia heroes were serving our country and protecting our nation’s capital when they were maliciously attacked,” Morrisey said, according to the Associated Press. “Their courage and commitment to duty represent the very best of our state.” The governor also appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend, emphasizing the deep sense of loss felt across the state: “West Virginia cares very deeply about its guard. And there's just a proud tradition of West Virginians who step up from military service. So, when something like this happens, it's really a gut punch to the communities.”
Beckstrom, a recent honors graduate of Webster County High School, joined the National Guard just weeks after finishing school in 2023. She was serving as a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company. The West Virginia National Guard described her as someone who “exemplified leadership, dedication, and professionalism,” noting that she had volunteered for Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful, an initiative aimed at ensuring the safety of the capital. Her commitment extended beyond her military role; after high school, Beckstrom worked as a community engagement specialist at a clinic in Summersville, helping teens and young adults facing mental health, substance abuse, and developmental challenges, as detailed by Summersville Mayor Robert Shafer.
Beckstrom’s personal impact was felt deeply in her community. At a Thanksgiving night vigil in Webster Springs, dozens gathered to honor her memory. Her father posted online, “My baby girl has passed to glory.” Friends recalled her as someone with a big heart, always eager to help others—even if it meant stepping far outside her comfort zone. Adam Carr, her former boyfriend, told The New York Times that although Beckstrom wasn’t initially excited about her deployment, she grew to embrace her role and the opportunity to help people. “As long as she was with people who cared about her, she was having a good time,” Carr said.
Summersville planned a candlelight vigil for Beckstrom on November 29, and before the West Virginia Mountaineers football game against Texas Tech in Morgantown that same day, a moment of silence was observed for both Beckstrom and Wolfe. Their photographs were displayed on the stadium scoreboard as the crowd paid tribute. The football team’s head coach, Rich Rodriguez, and the entire community expressed their condolences and solidarity. West Virginia ultimately lost the game 49-0, closing out a difficult season, but the loss on the field paled in comparison to the grief felt in the stands.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who serves with the 167th Force Support Squadron, has been a lineman with Frontier Communications since early 2023. The company praised his dedication: “He is a valuable member of our team, working hard to bring high-speed fiber internet to homes and businesses so everyone can stay connected to essential services and fully participate in the digital economy.” Wolfe’s parents, Sgt. Jason Wolfe and Melody Wolfe, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and support, urging the public to continue praying for their son’s recovery. Wolfe graduated from Musselman High School in 2019, where Principal Alicia Riggleman described him as “an engaged and high-achieving student who embodied the Applemen spirit, contributing positively to our school community both academically and athletically.”
Retired Major General James Hoyer, former adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, spoke to NPR about the broader role of the National Guard and the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families. “You recruit a soldier or an airman, but a family serves and sacrifices along with that soldier and airman,” Hoyer observed. He emphasized the Guard’s unique mission, not only in military operations but also in supporting communities during crises—ranging from natural disasters to public health emergencies. Hoyer reflected on the youth of both Beckstrom and Wolfe, noting their courage in stepping up to serve as part of the less than 1% of Americans who wear the nation’s uniform.
Political responses to the shooting have been swift and pointed. President Trump, in a video message, called Beckstrom “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way,” and asked Americans to pray for the victims. He also asserted that the alleged shooter’s entry to the country under Operation Allies Welcome should prompt a reexamination of immigration and resettlement policies. Meanwhile, Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia reported that Wolfe is “hanging on,” and echoed the call for nationwide prayers to aid his recovery.
As West Virginia mourns, the tragedy has rekindled debates over public safety, immigration, and the role of the National Guard in domestic deployments. Yet, amid the political and legal wrangling, the focus in communities from Webster Springs to Martinsburg remains on honoring the service and sacrifice of two young people who answered the call to serve, and on supporting their grieving families through an unimaginably difficult time.
