Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP / Getty Images
National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, has died after being shot Wednesday in a Washington, D.C. ambush just blocks from the White House.
President Donald Trump confirmed the news Thanksgiving night, noting he was told just seconds before speaking to members of the military at Mar-a-Lago.
"I heard that Sarah Beckstrom, of West Virginia, ... highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way, she's just passed away," Trump said. "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."
The president added the second service member wounded in the attack is still "fighting for his life."
"He's in very bad shape," Trump said. "He's fighting for his life and hopefully we'll get better news with respect to him."
He noted the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who Trump called a "monster," is also in serious condition.
"We won't even talk about him," the president said.