National Guard shooting in DC leaves West Virginia reeling as top official slams Afghanistan withdrawal

Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard, tragically died from injuries sustained during a targeted shooting incident near the White House on November 26, 2025. Her service in the military was seen as a source of pride and a vital economic opportunity for young people in her hometown of Webster Springs, where local economic prospects are limited.

Former President Donald Trump announced plans to cancel all executive orders signed by President Biden, claiming they were not personally signed by Biden, which escalates his ongoing criticism of his predecessor. This announcement comes amid heightened tensions following a recent shooting incident involving members of the West Virginia National Guard in Washington, D.C.

On November 26, 2025, a targeted shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., resulted in the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a member of the West Virginia National Guard. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz attributed the attack to President Donald Trump's actions, stating he should take responsibility for putting the National Guard in harm's way during a crackdown in the capital.

A shooting incident near the White House on November 26, 2025, left two members of the West Virginia National Guard critically injured, with the alleged shooter identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national. In response, former President Trump announced a plan to implement a 'permanent pause' on immigration from impoverished countries, particularly targeting those from Afghanistan and other 'Third World Countries.'

On November 26, 2025, a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., resulted in the death of Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, and left fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. The attack was allegedly carried out by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, during an ambush targeting the two Guardsmen.

In 2021, Afghan evacuees reportedly had unrestricted access to U.S. military bases, leading to concerns about unvetted individuals leaving these facilities without tracking. This issue gained renewed attention following the fatal shooting of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom by an Afghan national in Washington, D.C.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, has been charged with first-degree murder following the shooting of two members of the West Virginia National Guard, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, near the White House on November 26, 2025. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on November 27, while Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, has died from injuries sustained during a targeted shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C. on November 26, 2025. Fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition following the ambush allegedly carried out by an Afghan national.