Numerous tributes are being offered for Sarah Beckstrom, the 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member who passed away on Thanksgiving. She succumbed to injuries sustained the day prior while deployed in D.C. Beckstrom’s colleague, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was also shot near the White House in what officials have termed a “targeted” attack, remains in critical condition in the hospital after undergoing surgery.
During a call with service members, President Donald Trump commented, “She’s just passed away,” concerning Specialist Beckstrom, who joined the West Virginia National Guard in June 2023. He further stated, “She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now.”
Trump also mentioned that he had conversed with Beckstrom’s parents, conveying their family’s “devastated” state. Hinting at a possible attendance at Beckstrom’s funeral in West Virginia, the President honored the deceased service member, remarking that he had heard she was “outstanding in every way.”
On Thursday, local and federal law enforcement officers lined D.C. streets, paying their respects during a procession as Beckstrom’s remains were moved from MedStar Washington Hospital to the medical examiner’s office.
Beckstrom had been deployed to D.C. during the summer, serving in the nation’s capital through Trump’s “Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful.” This initiative involved sending over 2,000 National Guard troops as part of Trump’s efforts to combat crime in what he characterized as the “most unsafe city” in the U.S.
On Thursday evening, communities across Beckstrom’s home state of West Virginia assembled to honor her memory. Prayers were also offered for Sgt. Wolfe, whom Trump noted was “fighting for his life.”
During a vigil held in Webster Springs, close to Beckstrom’s former high school, attendees placed flowers in her honor.
Tributes to the fallen National Guard member have come from various groups, including her fellow service members, U.S. lawmakers, and her family and friends. A selection of these tributes follows:
West Virginia
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey spearheaded the tributes from his state, recalling Beckstrom as embodying “the very best” of its National Guard.
“Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation,” Morrissey stated. “Today, we honor her bravery and her sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others.”
The West Virginia National Guard similarly commended Beckstrom’s service and dedication while honoring their fallen member.
A statement from the Guard read, “Spc. Beckstrom, a 2023 graduate of Webster County High School, was a resident of Summersville, West Virginia. She volunteered to serve as part of ‘Operation D.C. Safe and Beautiful,’ helping to ensure the safety and security of our nation’s capital. Her loss is felt profoundly across our One Guard Family and throughout the Mountain State.”
The Trump Administration and lawmakers
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described Beckstrom as “an American hero” and urged the nation to “kneel in prayer for her family.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi asserted that America will “never forget [Sarah’s] courage” and pledged that “justice” would be served.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that Beckstrom was a “young soldier and patriot with her entire life ahead of her” and invited the nation to join him in prayer.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed that he was “deeply saddened” upon learning of the death of “heroic” Beckstrom.
“Together we must find a way to better protect those patriots who bravely defend and serve our nation,” he added.
Beckstrom’s family and friends
Beckstrom was with her family during her last moments. Hours before her passing, her father, Gary Beckstrom, informed the New York Times that he was holding her hand.
He was quoted as saying, “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.”
Beckstrom’s former boyfriend later contributed to the tributes. Adam Carr, who mentioned that he and Beckstrom concluded their six-year relationship “on good terms” sometime after her deployment to D.C., told CNN that the fallen National Guard member “would do anything for anyone” and possessed “a huge heart.”
The aftermath of the D.C. shooting
The D.C. shooting has quickly emerged as a focal point. Following the Department of Homeland Security’s identification of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, as the sole suspect, the President initiated several measures concerning the entry and residency of foreign nationals in the U.S.
On Wednesday, Trump called for a reexamination of all Afghan refugees who entered the U.S. under the Biden Administration. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services subsequently confirmed the indefinite pause of all immigration processing for Afghan nationals. Then, on Thursday, mere hours after declaring Beckstrom’s death, Trump escalated his immigration scrutiny, stating he would “permanently pause migration from all third world countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover.”
Under the President’s direction, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is also supervising “a full scale, rigorous reexamination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern.” The “countries of concern” are reportedly the 19 countries detailed in a document concerning “restricting the entry of foreign nationals.”
Since the D.C. shooting, Trump’s announcements have led some—including United Nations representatives—to voice concerns, viewing them as collective punishment against specific communities.
Meanwhile, Lakanwal is still in police custody, facing multiple charges, among them murder. The motive for the shooting has not yet been established, and the FBI has initiated a “coast-to-coast” investigation to determine the precise circumstances that resulted in the assault on the West Virginia National Guard members deployed in D.C.