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Before West Virginia Mountaineers The football team took on the No. 5 Texas Tech Red Raiders. On Saturday afternoon in Morgantown, a crowd observed a moment of silence for two West Virginia National Guard soldiers shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
The announcer asked the crowd to remain quiet as they gathered together to honor the 24-year-old U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe of Martinsburg and Sarah Beckstrom, 20, of Webster Springs. Their photographs were displayed on the scoreboard in a moment of silence.
Two National Guard soldiers were shot and killed near the White House while stationed in the District of Columbia. Beckstrom died from her injuries, and Staff Sgt. Wolfe remains in critical condition.
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Rich Rodriguez, head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, during the second quarter of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Milan Pushkar Stadium on Nov. 29, 2025, in Morgantown. (Brian Aho/Getty Images)
The murder suspect is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan citizen.
The shooting happened in broad daylight and eyewitness video has emerged showing the shooter, believed to be Lakanwal, wearing dark clothing, turning a corner with a revolver in his hand as Guardsmen scramble for cover.
NEW VIDEO EMERGES OF DC NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING AS SOLDIER CLINGS TO LIFE
One of the guards was spotted around the corner of the street and he returned fire. Metro police say differently National Guardsmen heard gunshots about three blocks from the White House and were able to apprehend Lakanwala after he was shot.
The shooter fired 10 to 15 shots from a .357 revolver, according to federal charging documents cited. Reuters.
Lacanval had entered the United States in September 2021 as part of Operation Welcome Allies, the Biden administration's Afghan evacuation and resettlement program. Prosecutors say he was traveling around the country shortly before the attack and had no previous criminal record.
Emergency personnel gather in a cordoned off area where National Guard soldiers were shot and killed near the White House on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill with a weapon. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the Justice Department intends to seek the death penalty.
Beckstrom and Wolf were among the West Virginia National Guard members sent to D.C. to combat crime in the city in response to President Donald Trump's executive order.
Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., said on FOX & Friends Weekend Saturday that Wolf is “hanging in there,” adding that his family is calling for prayer.
“Andrew is fighting for his life right now, his family and all of his friends are trying to gather as many prayers as possible from across the country and around the world to help him recover,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said Saturday on Fox & Friends Weekend.
National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolf, 24, were shot and killed in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Beckstrom died Thursday in hospital. (U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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“West Virginia is very protective of its policing. And West Virginians have a proud tradition of refusing military service. So when something like this happens, it really is a punch in the gut.”
As for the Mountaineers' play, they were uncompetitive with one of the best teams in the country. The Red Raiders beat them 49-0 to improve to 11-1 on the year. West Virginia finished the season 4–8.
Fox News' Michael Dorgan, Greg Norman and Madeleine Rivera contributed to this report.
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