Victims identified in National Guard shooting as investigation into Afghan national suspect ramps up

Reactions are continuing to pour in after the death of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom from injuries sustained during Wednesday's shooting near the White House in Washington, D.C., including from President Donald Trump, who is promising an immigration crackdown.

"I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“My baby girl has passed to glory," Beckstrom's father Gary wrote on Facebook. "If I don't talk to you don't be offend this has been a horrible tragedy.”

Coverage continues on a new Fox News Digital live blog.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was offering her "deepest condolences" to slain National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom's loved ones and fellow service members after Beckstrom and another guardsman were shot in the nation's capital.

"I just learned of the passing of Sarah Beckstrom, a dedicated member of the National Guard who was killed in yesterday’s tragic shooting in Washington," Hochul wrote on X.

"On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my deepest condolences to her family, her loved ones, and her fellow service members," the governor continued.

The second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still fighting for his life.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said fallen National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom was a patriot and that her sacrifice "will never be forgotten" after she and another guardsman were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

"Lord, grant Sarah’s family strength, healing and comfort," Bongino wrote on X.

"She led a life of patriotism, service and sacrifice, and we will not rest until we bring the hand of justice to her attacker," he continued. "Her sacrifice will never be forgotten."

Bongino added: "God bless America, and all of those patriots and heroes who defend Her."

Beckstrom died from her wounds on Thursday, while the second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, continues to fight for his life.

President Donald Trump announced his administration will permanently pause migration from "all Third World Countries" and remove anyone who is "not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country."

The president's Thanksgiving post comes after two National Guard members were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. legally, is accused of carrying out the shooting.

"A very Happy Thanksgiving salutation to all of our Great American Citizens and Patriots who have been so nice in allowing our Country to be divided, disrupted, carved up, murdered, beaten, mugged, and laughed at, along with certain other foolish countries throughout the World, for being 'Politically Correct,' and just plain STUPID, when it comes to Immigration," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump went on to say that he will impose several new restrictions to immigration, including permanently pausing migration from "all Third World Countries," terminating millions of "illegal" admissions allowed under the Biden administration and removing anyone "who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country."

"Even as we have progressed technologically, Immigration Policy has eroded those gains and living conditions for many," Trump wrote. "I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen, and remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country, end all Federal benefits and subsidies to noncitizens of our Country, denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization."

"These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations, including those admitted through an unauthorized and illegal Autopen approval process," he added. "Only REVERSE MIGRATION can fully cure this situation. Other than that, HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL, except those that hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for — You won’t be here for long!"

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said it was "absolutely devastating" to learn National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom died after she and another guardsman were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

The second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still fighting for his life.

"Absolutely devastating news," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X.

"My heart is broken for her family. Let us keep her loved ones in our thoughts and continue to pray for Staff Sgt. Wolfe," the congresswoman continued.

President Donald Trump said hundreds of thousands of people "poured into our Country totally unvetted and unchecked" after an Afghan national was accused of shooting two National Guard members on Wednesday.

"This is part of the horrendous airlift from Afghanistan," Trump said on Truth Social, along with a picture of Afghans crowded together.

"Hundreds of thousands of people poured into our Country totally unvetted and unchecked," he added. "We will fix it, but will never forget what Crooked Joe Biden and his Thugs did to our Country!"

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 under humanitarian parole as part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome, following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Lakanwal was vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan for his work with the agency and again for his asylum application in the U.S. A senior U.S. official told Fox News he was "clean on all checks" in his background check. He had his asylum application approved by the Trump administration earlier this year.

The West Virginia National Guard said it is "devastated" by the death of National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who was shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

"We are devastated to confirm the death of our own, Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who was shot in the line of duty near the Farragut Square Metro Station Wednesday. Spc. Beckstrom was pronounced dead at MedStar Washington Hospital on Nov. 27, by wounds incurred during the shooting," the West Virginia National Guard said on X.

"On behalf of Gov. Morrisey & WVNG, I extend my condolences to Spc. Beckstrom’s family, friends, and fellow Guardsmen. We grieve alongside them and honor her memory by carrying forward her commitment to service and excellence," Maj. Gen. James Seward added.

National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom’s, father, Gary Beckstrom, confirmed her passing in a Facebook post, writing:

“My baby girl has passed to glory. If I don't talk to you don't be offend this has been a horrible tragedy.”

Beckstrom was shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, and died after suffering what her father previously described as a “mortal wound.”

Before her death, Gary Beckstrom told the New York Times from the hospital that he was at his daughter’s side.

“I'm holding her hand right now,” he said in the phone interview. “She has a mortal wound. It's not going to be a recovery.”

Beckstrom was one of two National Guard members who were shot at the nation’s capital.

The fate of the second victim, Andrew Wolfe, remains unclear, though he was reported to be in critical condition.

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani said he was "devastated" when he learned National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died after she and another guardsman were shot in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

"I'm devastated to learn of the passing of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard. She was only twenty years old," Mamdani wrote on X.

"As families across the nation come together today to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us take a moment to think of those in West Virginia who have been plunged into unimaginable grief," he continued.

The second service member wounded in the attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, is still fighting for his life.

Secret Service Director Sean M. Curran said he is "forever thankful" for West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom's service, following her death Thursday from wounds suffered during an ambush attack Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

"On behalf of the United States Secret Service, I want to extend my sincerest condolences to the Beckstrom family on the loss of their daughter Sarah," Curran wrote in a statement. "We are forever grateful for Sarah’s service and may she rest in peace."

"Our hearts go out to all the members of the West Virginia National Guard who are working with heavy hearts this Thanksgiving," he added. "Please continue to pray for Andrew Wolfe who is still fighting for his life."

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, another Guardsman wounded in the attack, remains in critical condition, according to authorities.

Berkeley County Schools in Martinsburg, West Virginia confirmed on Thursday U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, one of the two National Guard members wounded in Wednesday's Washington, D.C. ambush, attended Musselman High School and graduated in 2019.

Musselman High School principal Alicia Riggleman said during his time at the school, Wolfe was an "active, engaged, and high-achieving student who embodied the Applemen spirit, contributing positively to our school community both academically and athletically."

He remains in critical condition at a local D.C. hospital, according to authorities.

"Our thoughts are with Sergeant Wolfe, his family, and others who recover from their recent injuries sustained in the line of duty," Riggleman wrote in a statement. "The Musselman High School community stands proud of their commitment to service and wishes them strength and healing."

President Donald Trump on Thursday slammed a reporter for questioning him about criticizing former President Joe Biden following a violent shootout Wednesday in Washington, D.C. that left one West Virginia National Guard member dead and another critically injured.

"Because they let them in. Are you stupid?" Trump said. "Are you a stupid person? Because they came in on a plane, along with thousands of other people that shouldn't be here, and you're just asking questions because you're a stupid person. There's a law passed, that [makes] it almost impossible not to let them in, and you can't get them out once they come in."

"They came in and they were unvetted. They were unchecked," he continued. "There were many of them, and they came in on big planes and it was disgraceful. If you look, you'll see there was a law passed that makes it almost impossible not to let them in, not to certify them, so to speak. ... Frankly, the whole thing was a mess. The whole Afghanistan situation was a mess. ... When you let people come in by the thousands and thousands and thousands, they made a terrible mistake. They were incompetent."

The White House on Thursday confirmed President Donald Trump spoke with Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom’s parents hours after her death.

Beckstrom, 20, of Summersville, West Virginia, died Thursday after being shot a day prior near the Farragut Square Metro in Washington, D.C.

Authorities allege the suspected gunman specifically targeted her and fellow National Guard member U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was also wounded in the shooting.

Wolfe remains in critical condition, as of Thursday night. 

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on Thursday said it is mourning the loss of West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, who died after being shot Wednesday in a Washington, D.C. ambush.

"We send our deepest condolences to Spec. Beckstrom’s loved ones and fellow guardsmen," MPD wrote in a social media post. "Our detectives and our partners continue to investigate Wednesday’s horrific shooting."

The department also reposted a new photo of Beckstrom, seen smiling in her military uniform, which was originally shared by the District of Columbia National Guard.

Authorities said Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, who was critically wounded in the gunfight, were sworn in less than 24 hours before the attack.

President Donald Trump said he is considering attending the funeral of 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who died Thursday afternoon after being critically wounded in a targeted shooting a day prior in Washington, D.C.

Minutes after announcing Beckstrom's death from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, he said he had not thought about it yet, but noted "it certainly is something I could conceive of."

"[I will] have a call in a little while, actually, right after this, [with the families of the two National Guard members who were shot]," Trump said. "We'll be speaking [to Beckstrom's family] tonight or tomorrow. You have to give them a little [time]. They just found out about their daughter. You know, you can't just call two seconds later."

He added he "love[s] West Virginia" and "won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere."

President Donald Trump on Thursday addressed concerns about the suspect in the fatal National Guard shooting on Wednesday, saying although he was vetted before entering the U.S., "he went cuckoo."

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national, is accused of fatally shooting Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounding Andrew Wolfe, 24, in a violent, targeted attack blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C.

Lakanwal was vetted by the CIA in Afghanistan and was granted final asylum approval under the Trump administration, multiple sources told Fox News Digital.

When asked how an attack like Wednesday's could take place after vetting, Trump said Lakanwal "went cuckoo."

"I mean, he went nuts, and that happens. It happens too often with these people," Trump said. "There was no vetting or anything. ... We have a lot of others in this country, and we're going to get them out, but they go cuckoo. Something happens to them."

Trump noted "when it comes to asylum, when they're flown in, it's very hard to get them out. No matter how you want to do it, it's very hard to get them out. But we're going to be getting them all out now."

Hours earlier, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow announced that at Trump's direction, there would be a "full scale, rigorous reexamination" of every green card issued to immigrants from "every country of concern."

The 19 countries deemed "high-risk" by the USCIS include: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey reacted to the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, one of the two West Virginia National Guard members wounded in a Washington, D.C. shooting Wednesday, remembering her for her unwavering sense of duty to the nation.

"A few moments ago, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom passed away from the injuries sustained during yesterday’s horrific shooting," Morrisey wrote in a statement on X. "This is not the result we hoped for, but it is the result we all feared. 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 honor her bravery and her sacrifice as we mourn the loss of a young woman who gave everything she had in defense of others," he added. "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 Trump administration is mourning the loss of 20-year-old National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, who died Thursday after being shot a day prior while patrolling in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump announced the death, noting Beckstrom was "highly respected" and "outstanding in every way."

FBI Director Kash Patel reacted to the news on X, saying she was "a young soldier and patriot with her entire life ahead of her. Please join me in praying for Sarah’s family, friends, and fellow soldiers left behind."

War Secretary Pete Hegseth called Beckstrom "an American hero."

"An American hero, at home with the LORD," Hegseth wrote in a post. "RIP, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom. May our nation kneel in prayer for her family."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added, "May God Bless Sarah’s family during this unimaginably difficult time."

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an X post she was "devastated," pledging America will "never forget her courage."

"Devastated. Please pray for Sarah. Pray for her family. America will never forget her courage," Bondi wrote. "There WILL BE JUSTICE for Sarah. Continue to pray for Andrew."

Andrew Wolfe, 24, another Guardsmen wounded in the attack, is still fighting for his life, according to the president.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his heart was heavy.

"My heart is heavy as we learn of the tragic passing of West Virginia National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom," Rubio wrote on X. "May the Lord receive her into His eternal embrace and grant her family peace and comfort. Continuing to pray for Guardsman Andrew Wolfe."

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro previously said charges against suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal would be raised to first degree murder if either of the victims died, opening up the possibility for capital punishment.

In her post, Bondi added that thanks to Trump, "the death penalty is back."