A father has made a desperate plea for prayers as his son, a National Guardsman, fights for his life following a shocking ambush-style shooting in Washington D.C. that has already claimed the life of his colleague.
A Thanksgiving Tragedy Unfolds
The incident occurred on Wednesday, just a few blocks from the White House at around 2.15 p.m., the day before Thanksgiving. Two National Guard members, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, and U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, were both left in critical condition after the attack.
The situation turned even more grim on Thursday when President Donald Trump confirmed that Specialist Beckstrom had died from her injuries. During a Thanksgiving call with U.S. troops, the President stated that Wolfe remained "in very bad shape."
In a brief conversation with NBC News, Wolfe's father, Jason Wolfe, encapsulated the family's anguish, urging the public, "pray for my son."
Remembering Sarah Beckstrom
Sarah Beckstrom, who enlisted in the National Guard on June 26, 2023, served with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard. Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that the young soldier had volunteered to work in D.C. over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Her father, Gary Beckstrom, was at her bedside in the hospital and had told the New York Times that his daughter was unlikely to recover from her extensive injuries. "I'm holding her hand right now," he said. "She has a mortal wound. It's not going to be a recovery."
President Trump eulogised her as a "magnificent person" and "highly respected." Her former boyfriend, Adam Carr, described Beckstrom as "caring and tenderhearted," adding that she loved nature and road trips and dreamed of a career with the F.B.I.
West Virginia senator Jim Justice said he was "absolutely devastated" by the news, offering prayers for her family, friends, and fellow guardsmen.
Andrew Wolfe's Fight for Survival
Like his colleague, Andrew Wolfe was serving on the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission when he was shot. The 24-year-old joined the National Guard on February 5, 2019, and serves as a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant assigned to the Force Support Squadron, 167th Airlift Wing.
A friend, Brooke Davison, told The New York Times that Wolfe had never expressed safety concerns about his work in Washington D.C. She expressed fierce belief in his resilience, stating, "Andy is easily one of the strongest, determined and God-fearing men I know. I have no doubt he has the willpower in him to come out on top of this."
Berkeley County Schools in West Virginia confirmed that Wolfe was a graduate of Musselman High School in 2019. The school's principal, Alicia Riggleman, remembered him as an "active, engaged, and high-achieving student" who embodied the school spirit.
Police have made an arrest in connection with the shooting, apprehending 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Investigations into the motive for the attack are ongoing.
