WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with National Guard troops at the D.C. Armory on Friday, offering condolences after a deadly shooting in downtown Washington that killed one service member and injured another, while praising the force credited with sharply reducing violent crime across the nation’s capital.
Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Summersville, West Virginia, died Thursday after being shot the previous day while on duty near Farragut Square. She served with the 863rd Military Police Company. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was also wounded and remains hospitalized.
“Obviously our hearts are heavy right now for the loss of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom,” Hegseth told gathered troops. “A beautiful human being and a great American willing to serve her country… brutally targeted, ambushed, on the street.” He also urged prayers for Wolfe, who he said was in a “fight for his life.”
Hegseth led troops in prayer for both families before meeting privately with two individuals credited with helping subdue Rahmanullah Lakanwal, later arrested as the shooting suspect.
More than 2,200 National Guard personnel are currently assigned to Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, including roughly 925 from the D.C. National Guard and more than 1,300 from units deployed from Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, West Virginia, Ohio and South Carolina.
Hegseth said the Guard’s presence has produced dramatic improvements in public safety. “We are nothing but grateful for everything that you do every single day and every single night,” he said, adding that President Donald J. Trump “believes that we should have a safe, secure and beautiful capital… and you have delivered just that.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller also addressed the formation, conveying what he described as the president’s personal gratitude. “Tens of millions of Americans all across this nation look up to you with gratitude, affection, loyalty, friendship and pride,” Miller said.
The deadly shooting occurred while Hegseth was traveling in the Dominican Republic for meetings on countering narcotics-linked terrorism. Hours after learning of the attack, he announced plans to further increase the Guard’s footprint in the capital. “President Trump has asked me… to tell the National Guard to add 500 additional troops to Washington, D.C.,” he said during remarks in Santo Domingo.
Following the Armory address, Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, Miller, and other senior leaders served Thanksgiving dinner to uniformed personnel and later joined service members at their tables.
The investigation into the Nov. 26 shooting remains ongoing.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.