The White House on Friday announced the death of U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a National Guardswoman who was shot during an attack in Washington, D.C.
A statement from the U.S. government said Beckstrom, 20, from Summersville, West Virginia, died from injuries sustained in the incident, which officials say is being investigated by the FBI as a possible act of terrorism.
Beckstrom and another National Guard member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, were deployed to the capital as part of a federal initiative to combat rising crime. Both officers underwent emergency surgery and were initially listed in critical condition.
The suspected attacker, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly travelled across the country before opening fire with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has been charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill and illegal firearm possession.
In a separate statement, President Donald Trump renewed calls for a halt to immigration from what he described as “Third World Countries.” He criticised current U.S. immigration policies and claimed that refugee inflows were straining public resources and contributing to social instability.
Trump cited examples including crime, pressure on public services, and demographic concerns, claiming that some communities, such as Minnesota, had been overwhelmed by refugee populations.
Federal authorities say investigations into the D.C. attack and the suspect’s motives are ongoing.
