National Guard member dies after Washington shooting says US President Donald Trump

Officials have confirmed that one of the guards shot in the targeted attack, now being investigated by the FBI as an act of terror

One of the national guards shot in a targeted attack in Washington DC has died, officials have confirmed. Trump has said the female member, identified earlier as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, had died from her injuries, Sky News reports.

Andrew Wolfe, 24, the second National Guard member, remains in critical condition. Trump announced Sarah's death on a Thanksgiving call with US service members on Thursday evening (November 27).

He said: "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... She was savagely attacked. She's dead."

Gary Beckstrom, Sarah's father, told the New York Times earlier on Thursday: “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery. I’m holding her hand right now."

Governor Patrick Morrisey took to X and said: "Sarah served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation. She answered the call to serve, stepped forward willingly, and carried out her mission with the strength and character that define the very best of the West Virginia National Guard.

"Today, we honour her bravery and her sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others. We will forever hold her family, her friends, and her fellow Guardsmen in our prayers as they grieve what no family should ever have to bear."

The news comes after its has been confirmed that the suspected shooter was an Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The incident is being investigated by the FBI as an act of terror.

According to NY Post, Lakanwal was allegedly lying in wait before he rounded the corner near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC around 2.15pm on Wednesday, November 26 then opened fire, striking a Sarah in the chest before shooting her in the head, according to law enforcement sources.

Following the gunshots the suspect was reportedly shot four times before being taken away nearly naked in an ambulance. West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey initially said the two guards had died, but later made a correction clarifying that his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition. The guards were reportedly taken to two separate hospitals and were in critical condition.

"They answered the call, they volunteered, they put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know - and that is becoming a reality more and more for members of law enforcement," US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

A suspect who was in custody was also shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement source. Trump has offered his love to the families of those impacted and in a statement to the nation launched a scathing attack at Joe Biden's presidency and immigration laws.

The US President labelled the former president the 'worst in the history of our country' for letting in '20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners'.

Jeffery Carroll, executive assistant Washington police chief said the assailant “came around the corner” and immediately started firing at the troops roughly two blocks northwest of the White House. After hearing gunfire, other troops in the area ran over and held down the gunman.

Trump added that the suspected shooter "will pay a very steep price" for his actions. A post on X from US Citizenship and Immigration Services read: "Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission."

An Afghan advocacy group also condemned the attack but said it should not be used to "isolate or harm" Afghans who came to resettle in America.