by Lovely Eseoghene Onohwakpor
West Virginia Guard Member Killed, Another Critically Hurt in DC Ambush
A West Virginia National Guard soldier was killed and another critically wounded in an ambush-style shooting near the White House on November 26, shattering what should have been a day of Thanksgiving for their families and communities. The victims, 20-year-old Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, were in Washington as part of a federal support mission.
Beckstrom, who volunteered to remain on duty through the holiday so others could spend time at home, died on Thanksgiving after her family kept vigil at her bedside. A member of the 863rd Military Police Company, she joined the Guard in 2023 and was remembered by classmates and friends as compassionate, driven, and committed to a future in federal law enforcement. Her community in Summersville held a vigil in her honor, and authorities in Washington conducted a dignified transfer to escort her remains.
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Wolfe, assigned to the 167th Airlift Wing’s Force Support Squadron, underwent emergency surgery and remains in critical condition. Known in his Martinsburg neighborhood as a helpful and hardworking young man, Wolfe’s friends and family expressed shock at the violence and asked for continued prayers for his recovery.
Both service members were among thousands deployed to the capital earlier this year as part of a broader federal security surge. The sudden attack on the pair has deepened concerns about rising instability in the city and left their West Virginia communities reeling.
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the targeted shooting as tributes pour in for Beckstrom and support grows for Wolfe’s family during his ongoing fight for life.
