Sarah Beckstrom, the young National Guard soldier critically injured in Wednesday’s shooting near the White House, has died, president Donald Trump said on Thursday.
Beckstrom had her family by her side when she passed away. Her father, Gary Beckstrom, told New York Times earlier in the day that the wound was fatal and there was no chance of recovery. He said he was holding her hand when he spoke on the phone, and declined to comment further.
“I’m holding her hand right now,” Gary Beckstrom said. “She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery.”
Another guard member, Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. A man at his family home said they only wanted prayers for his son and did not wish to speak more.
Both Beckstrom and Wolfe were part of the West Virginia National Guard units deployed to Washington DC since August, after president Donald Trump ordered thousands of guard troops to the capital as part of his crime-control push.
Adam Carr, Sarah ’s former boyfriend, said she was “caring and tenderhearted”. He recalled that she worked with the military police and joined the National Guard because she hoped to build a career in the FBI.
Carr said she loved nature, long drives and spending time with her family. “As long as she was with people who cared about her, she was having a good time,” he said.
He said Sarah was not very excited about being sent to Washington at first. Once she arrived, she told him that some people were unhappy about the guard being in the capital. But over time, she settled in. He said she began to enjoy the city, visiting museums and walking around the memorials, experiences she hadn’t had back home in West Virginia.
Who was Sarah Beckstrom?- Sarah Beckstrom was a 20-year-old National Guard specialist from Summersville, West Virginia.
- She joined the West Virginia Army National Guard in June 2023 and served in the 863rd military police Company
- She was described as caring, tenderhearted, and deeply close to her family.
- She dreamt of joining the FBI and saw the guard as a path towards that goal.
- She enjoyed nature, road trips and spending time with people she cared about.
- Although hesitant about the Washington DC deployment, she later explored the city’s museums and memorials.
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