A strange incident shook everyone after two National Guard members got injured in a shooting incident near the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Both of the U.S. National Guards, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were severely injured, but Sarah died and the other guard member is still fighting for his life.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed her death in an announcement at Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
President Trump, in his first live remarks after the shooting 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’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It’s just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead now,” Trump added.
According to the BBC, the U.S. president also talked to Sarah’s parents for condolence.
20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom was born and raised in Summersville, West Virginia.
The National Guard member was graduated from Webster County High School in 2023 and began her service in June 2023.
According to the New York Times, she was assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard.
Sarah was always passionate about law enforcement and dreamed of a career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI.
While expressing condolences, the West Virginia National Guards said, “Her loss is felt profoundly across our One Guard Family and throughout the Mountain State.”
Sarah had volunteered to serve in the Trump administration’s D.C. National Guard deployment.
During her short career, she worked in military police roles and voluntarily contributed extra shifts, including during holidays.
Beckstrom volunteered to work in the nation's capital over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Officials and lawmakers offered condolences for Beckstrom's family upon learning of her death on Thanksgiving.
Attorney Gen Jim Justice, a Republican senator from West Virginia, said he was "absolutely devastated” to learn of Ms Beckstrom's passing.
“Our prayers are with her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen during an incredibly difficult Thanksgiving Day,” said Jim.
"We are also lifting up Andrew Wolfe in prayer as he continues his journey to recovery."
West Virginia Governor, Patrick Morrisey said in a statement, “Beckstrom served with courage, extraordinary resolve, and an unwavering sense of duty to her state and to her nation.”
“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-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,” he added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also expressed, “May God bless Sarah’s family during this unimaginably difficult time.”
Additionally, more than 2,000 troops have been guarding the nation's capital since August, when the president began deploying troops to cities to tackle what he called "out of control" crime.
As reported by BBC news, Ms. Beckstrom and Mr. Wolfe were among those who were deployed in August and both West Virginia National Guard soldiers had been on a high-visibility patrol near the White House.
