Tragic Loss: Sarah Beckstrom, 20-Year-Old National Guard Member Killed in Washington DC Shooting Near White House

Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member from Summersville, West Virginia, has died following injuries sustained in a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump confirmed her passing on November 27.

"Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we're talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person... She's just passed away. She's no longer with us," President Trump stated in his first public remarks following the shooting.

Beckstrom was one of two National Guard personnel targeted in the attack. She began her military service on June 6, 2023, serving with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard.

The West Virginia National Guard had deployed numerous troops to Washington DC as part of President Trump's initiative to reduce crime in the capital. According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Beckstrom had volunteered for duty in Washington over the Thanksgiving holiday period.

Former boyfriend Adam Carr described Beckstrom as "caring and tender-hearted." She reportedly joined the National Guard with aspirations of pursuing a career with the FBI. Carr mentioned that Beckstrom had a passion for nature, enjoyed road trips, and valued time spent with her family.

"As long as she was with people who cared about her, she was having a good time," Carr shared with The New York Times.

Although initially hesitant about her deployment to Washington, Beckstrom eventually embraced the experience, exploring museums and walking along memorials—activities not readily available in her home state of West Virginia.

The second victim of the attack, US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Both service members were reportedly shot at close range. Authorities have arrested one suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal from Afghanistan, in connection with the shooting.

This tragic incident occurred months after President Trump deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington to reinforce law enforcement efforts and address crime in the nation's capital.