Two National Guard members shot dead in a targeted ambush on Wednesday afternoonjust a few blocks from the White House in DC, were identified as Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe.
They are both from the West Virginia National Guard, Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said at a news conference Thursday.
Beckstrom and Wolfe were serving on the Safe and Nice mission when they were shot about 2:15 p.m., the West Virginia National Guard said in a news release. press release.
The shooting occurred less than 24 hours after they were assigned to maintain their patrol status, said a spokesman for the joint task force investigating the shooting.
They are currently hospitalized in critical condition. Suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal was also injured and taken to hospital. He faces three counts of assault with intent to murder with a weapon and one count of possession of a firearm during a violent crime.
Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, entered duty Feb. 5, 2019, the joint task force said in a news release. He is a U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant assigned to the 167th Airlift Wing Force Support Squadron.
Beckstrom, 20, of Webster Springs, West Virginia, enlisted June 26, 2023. She is assigned to the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, and is a U.S. Army Specialist.
The National Guard said they have been deployed to Washington since August after President Donald Trump ordered troops into the city as part of a crime-fighting effort.
Beckstrom's father said New York Times that she had a “mortal wound” and would most likely never recover.
“I'm holding her hand right now,” Gary Beckstrom said. “There will be no recovery.”
Beckstrom's family did not immediately respond to NBC News' requests for comment.
Jason Wolfe, Wolfe's father, declined to comment but added, “Just pray for my son.”
