National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, dies from shooting near White House

Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died on Nov. 27, 2025, from injuries sustained in a shooting near the White House on Nov. 26. She was a member of the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, ⛰️West Virginia National Guard. Beckstrom enlisted on Jun. 26, 2023, at age 18 and had served for just over two years at the time of her death. She was from Summersville, West Virginia, a small town of about 3,000 people. Her family described her as deeply committed to military service and aspiring to join the FBI after completing her National Guard commitment.

Beckstrom was deployed to 🏛️Washington, D.C., since Aug. 2025 as part of the 'DC Safe and Beautiful Mission,' a National Guard deployment providing security and law enforcement support in the nation's capital. She volunteered to extend her deployment orders through the end of the year beyond the original assignment. Beckstrom and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who remains in critical condition, were deputized as law enforcement officers less than 24 hours before the shooting to expand their patrol authority in D.C.

The shooting occurred on Nov. 26, 2025, near the White House while Beckstrom and Wolfe were on patrol. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national, is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and weapons charges. Lakanwal allegedly used a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. Federal law enforcement is investigating whether Lakanwal specifically targeted military personnel or whether the attack was opportunistic. Lakanwal worked for the CIA in Afghanistan and entered the U.S. in Sept. 2021 via Operation Allies Welcome during the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal under the Biden administration. He was granted asylum in 2025 under the Trump administration.

President Trump announced Beckstrom's death during his annual Thanksgiving call to deployed troops on Nov. 27. Trump said 'I spoke with Sarah's parents this morning. They're devastated, as you can imagine. Sarah was a hero who gave her life serving our country in the nation's capital.' Trump used the announcement to justify his Nov. 26 suspension of all Afghan immigration and his call to review all refugees admitted under the Biden administration. Defense Secretary PHPete Hegseth attended Beckstrom's dignified transfer on Nov. 27 evening.

Beckstrom's former boyfriend Adam Carr told reporters she was caring, patriotic, and determined to make a difference through military service. Carr said Beckstrom talked often about her FBI aspirations and saw National Guard service as preparation for a law enforcement career. Beckstrom's high school teachers described her as serious, focused, and driven. ⛰️West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice ordered flags flown at half-staff and said 'Sarah exemplified the very best of West Virginia—courage, service, and dedication to protecting others.'

The 863rd Military Police Company has a long history supporting federal missions in 🏛️Washington, D.C., including inaugural security, civil unrest response, and ongoing security operations. The unit was activated for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot aftermath and has maintained rotations in D.C. since then. Members volunteer for D.C. deployments, which offer additional pay and the opportunity to support high-profile federal missions. The deployments typically last 3-6 months with options to extend.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition at George 🌲Washington University Hospital. Wolfe is from 🔔Pennsylvania and serves with an Air Force security forces unit also deployed to the 🏛️D.C. mission. His family requested privacy and hasn't released statements. The Air Force said Wolfe has served for six years and has deployed overseas twice. Like Beckstrom, Wolfe volunteered to extend his D.C. deployment through Dec. and was deputized shortly before the shooting.

The 🏛️DC Safe and Beautiful Mission began in 2024 as a Trump administration initiative to supplement D.C. Metropolitan Police with federal law enforcement and National Guard personnel. The mission focuses on downtown D.C., federal buildings, and high-traffic tourist areas. Critics have questioned the legal authority for long-term military deployments in domestic law enforcement roles. The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits using federal military forces for law enforcement, but National Guard under state control (Title 32 status) can perform such missions with proper authorization.