Slain National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom said DC deployment felt ‘pointless’
NEW: According to her former boyfriend, National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom, who died after the D.C. attack, believed her deployment to Washington was “pointless.”
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) November 29, 2025
A 20-year-old soldier killed in the capital while questioning why she was sent there in the first place. pic.twitter.com/M6XN8MZFvr
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA: The former boyfriend of slain National Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom revealed on Friday, November 28, that she was frustrated by the limits placed on her during her deployment to Washington, DC.
Beckstrom, 20, and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe were shot on Thanksgiving Eve while on patrol. The suspect, 29-year-old Afghan immigrant Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is currently charged in connection with the attack.
Sarah Beckstrom’s ex reveals deployment frustrations
Beckstrom’s ex-boyfriend, Adam Carr, spoke to CNN’s Gabe Cohen in West Virginia about her feelings on the mission. When asked whether she believed in the mission or thought the West Virginia National Guard did not belong there, Carr said, “It was mixed.”
He explained that the National Guard members were largely powerless: "She got deputized in there, and they gave them no rights to do anything."
Carr added that Beckstrom was frustrated at being unable to act when members of the public behaved aggressively. “She was like, ‘People spit towards us, cuss at us, throw things at us, and we can’t do nothing,’” he said.
He also noted that she had no authority to detain anyone or prevent wrongdoing, since “they told them to call the cops.”
Carr revealed that Beckstrom, who had initially been eager to serve, became disillusioned. “She was also like, 'Why am I here if I can't do nothing? Where they limited them so much.' She said, 'It's pointless. I get why we're here. Crime is bad, but it's pointless if we can't do anything."
President Donald Trump announces Sarah Beckstrom’s death
On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced Beckstrom’s death, praising her service. “I must unfortunately tell you that just seconds before I went on, I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the Guardsmen that we are talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way, she's just passed away,” he said.
🚨 BREAKING: National Guardsman Sarah Breckstrom has died, President Trump has announced
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 27, 2025
“Her family was with her… She was outstanding in every single way! In every department.”
The other soldier, Andrew Wolfe, is still fighting for his life.
Pray for their families tonight.… pic.twitter.com/8eRxwp806t
“Her family was with her… She was outstanding in every single way! In every department,” Trump added. The other soldier, Andrew Wolfe, is still fighting for his life.
Ambush near White House kills Sarah Beckstrom, critically wounds Andrew Wolfe
The attack occurred around 2:15 PM on Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve, a few blocks from the White House. Beckstrom and Wolfe were on patrol when Lakanwal opened fire.
Lakanwal shot Beckstrom in the head and chest, critically wounding Wolfe. The assault ended when a third Guardsman arrived and subdued the suspect, who also sustained gunshot wounds. Lakanwal faces initial charges including assault with intent to kill and criminal possession of a weapon.
Beckstrom’s death has raised questions about National Guard mission limitations and the risks faced by service members on domestic deployments.
