Sarah Beckstrom

Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old US Army specialist and member of the West Virginia National Guard, was killed in a shooting in Washington DC on the eve of Thanksgiving. She was patrolling the US capital as part of a deployment of military members. The incident has gained national attention, with former President Trump inviting her family to the White House and speaking with her parents, who are reportedly devastated. Her fellow service member, US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was also critically wounded in the ambush-style attack and is currently hospitalized, with his family reporting slow but positive progress in his recovery. The suspect in the shooting, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, reportedly struggled with mental health issues and isolation prior to the incident. The shooting has raised concerns about the safety of National Guard members deployed in Washington DC and sparked discussions about mental health support for immigrants.