Vigil honors slain guard specialist

Mourners held a vigil in Webster Springs and other West Virginia communities for Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard who died after being shot while on duty near the White House. Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were ambushed while patrolling close to Farragut Square; Wolfe remains in critical condition. A makeshift memorial with flowers and American flags was placed near the scene in Washington, D.C., and tributes poured in from local leaders and military colleagues describing Beckstrom as dedicated and selfless.

Authorities identified the suspect as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States in 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome resettlement program. Prosecutors said Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the capital and used a .357 Magnum revolver in what U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro described as an ambush-style attack; he was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and is hospitalized under guard. Federal investigators executed search warrants in multiple locations, seized electronic devices and are conducting a nationwide probe. Pirro indicated additional charges are expected and said first-degree murder counts could be brought.

The administration characterized the episode as a terrorist attack and announced immediate policy reviews: the president ordered reviews of asylum approvals and said migration from what he termed “Third World Countries” would be frozen, while officials said they were reassessing immigration cases tied to recent resettlement efforts. The president also blamed prior administration policies for allowing the suspect to resettle in the U.S., prompting a sharp debate. Humanitarian groups and resettlement advocates warned against stigmatizing entire refugee communities and stressed that the shooter alone is responsible for the violence.

Lakanwal’s background has drawn scrutiny: officials and sources said he had served in a CIA-supported Afghan unit before coming to the U.S.; his asylum claim was approved earlier this year. The suspect has a wife and five children living in Washington state. Legal authorities signaled they may pursue the most severe penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty, if warranted.

Community vigils emphasized Beckstrom’s service — she had volunteered for the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful” mission — and became moments of solidarity for service members and civilians. As the investigation continues, officials and military leaders called for justice and reviewed security arrangements for deployed Guard personnel in densely populated areas.