Sara Beckstrom. Photo Reuters.
According to the "Russian Service of the BBC," 20-year-old service member Sara Beckstrom has died from injuries sustained in a shooting in Washington. President Trump confirmed her death in his address to service members on Thanksgiving Day, which took place on Thursday evening.
The second victim, 24-year-old Andrew Wolf, is in critical condition.
The incident occurred on November 26 in downtown Washington, when service members were patrolling a busy area where office workers gather during lunchtime. Police apprehended the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a native of Afghanistan.
The President noted that Sara Beckstrom, a native of West Virginia, was an outstanding individual who began her service in June 2023: "She was a respected, young, and wonderful woman. She has just passed away. She is no longer with us," he said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that Sara Beckstrom had volunteered for duty on Thanksgiving Day. Since the shooting occurred near the White House, law enforcement quickly arrived at the scene to provide assistance and apprehend the shooter.
According to law enforcement, the suspect was shot four times during the arrest. Officials reported that Rahmanullah Lakanwal emigrated to the U.S. from Afghanistan in 2021.
He will face charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated her intention to seek the death penalty for the suspect, describing him as "a monster who should not have been in our country."
