Slain Sarah Beckstrom ‘cried’ over DC Guard posting but later ‘grew fond’ of the city, says ex-BF

WASHINGTON, DC: The nation has been thrown into turmoil after two National Guard members were shot, leaving one female Guard member dead. The attack was carried out by an Afghan national identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

Young Sarah Beckstrom was also killed in the chaos. Her ex-boyfriend, Adam Carr, shared that she had not been looking forward to her deployment. She cried before leaving and told him she "didn’t want to go."

Despite her initial frustration, she eventually “grew fond of being down there,” suggesting she found a sense of purpose or connection during her time in DC. 

Sarah Beckstrom embraced Washington duty after early hesitation

Fallen National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom had not been thrilled when she learned she was being deployed, Carr told NBC 4 Washington. Her troop’s placement was part of Donald Trump’s push to make the city “crime-free.”

“She hated it. She was crying before she left, didn’t want to go, and then she volunteered for longer,” Carr said. “She really, really grew fond of being down there. Just volunteered for more time.”

Beckstrom, who grew up in Webster Springs, graduated with honors from Webster County High School in 2023 and joined the National Guard just four weeks later.

According to Carr, she eventually fell in love with her assignment in the capital and often explored the city’s landmarks. The pair had been together for six years and had only recently ended their relationship.

“She would go to the monuments while patrolling on duty, and then on her own off time she would go visit… museums and monuments on their own,” he said.

Sarah Beckstrom wanted to build a career in federal law enforcement

Beckstrom had opted to extend her stay in Washington barely a day before she and another Guard member were shot in broad daylight. She had joined the military in June 2023, hoping it would pave the way for a future career in federal law enforcement.

A Webster Springs native, Beckstrom graduated with honors from Webster County High School in 2023 and enlisted in the National Guard just a month later.

According to her ex, she dealt with significant hostility while working in the city. “Even though they were deputized, she said people would spit at her, throw things at her and cuss her out and wish death upon them and just simply be outrageous and assault them, and they couldn’t do nothing about it because they had no leeway," he said.