National Guard Member Killed in Washington Shooting

One of the two National Guard members injured in a shooting in Washington, D.C. has died. The attack took place around midday on Wednesday (26 December). U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the incident on Thursday night (27 December).

The information was reported on Friday (28 November) by the BBC.

The deceased service member was identified as 20-year-old Sarah Bekstrom. She died in hospital after sustaining critical gunshot wounds. The other injured member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolf, is still fighting for his life, the President said.

The shooting occurred around 2 p.m. local time at Farragut Square in downtown Washington, D.C., where both Guard members were shot at close range. Police arrested a suspect at the scene — 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakhanwal, an Afghan national.

During a Thanksgiving address to U.S. troops, President Trump mentioned Bekstrom’s death, saying, “Sarah Bekstrom of West Virginia — a highly respected, young, remarkable individual… she is no longer with us.”

West Virginia Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sarah had voluntarily come to the capital to serve during the Thanksgiving holiday. Her death has prompted deep sorrow, with Republican Senator Jim Justice expressing condolences in a statement: “On this difficult Thanksgiving Day, we pray for her family, friends, and fellow soldiers. We also pray for Andrew Wolf’s recovery.”

According to BBC, the two Guard members were patrolling the busy intersection of 17th and I Streets. More than 2,000 National Guard members have been deployed across Washington, D.C. since August as part of efforts to combat rising crime.

Because the incident occurred very close to the White House, law enforcement officers arrived swiftly, assisted the wounded, and subdued the suspect. CBS News reported that the suspect was shot four times during the arrest.