The father of Sarah Beckstrom, one of the National Guard members gunned down in a suspected terror attack in Washington, D.C., confirmed on Thursday that his daughter sustained a mortal wound and will not survive her injuries. Gary Beckstrom, speaking from his daughter's bedside, conveyed the devastating news, stating, "She has a mortal wound, it's not going to be a recovery. I'm holding her hand right now." Beckstrom was ambushed alongside fellow West Virginia National Guard member Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition. Wolfe's father, Jason, has appealed for prayers for his 24-year-old son, describing him as "a great person" and "a fighter."

The Afghan suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was injured during the shooting and is currently in custody at a hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Lakanwal, who had driven across the country from his home in Bellingham, Washington state, where he lived with his wife and five children, allegedly shot the National Guard soldiers with a .357 Smith and Wesson revolver just 800 yards from the White House on Wednesday. Fingerprints matched to Lakanwal, who had fled to the US following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. He had direct links to the CIA from his work alongside US Special Forces in Afghanistan, where he served as an elite commander in Unit 01 of the former Afghan government's National Directorate of Security.

Donald Trump swiftly attributed blame to President Joe Biden, calling for a review of all Afghan nationals who have entered the country. Trump stated that Lakanwal, identified as a foreigner from Afghanistan, was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021 and had his status extended under legislation signed by Biden. However, CNN reported that Lakanwal applied for asylum in 2024, and his application was approved by Trump's Department of Homeland Security in April of the current year.

Law enforcement has not yet released a definitive motive for the shooting, but the FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, is investigating potential links to international terror. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro's notes from a Thursday briefing indicated that the suspected shooter yelled "allahu akbar" before the attack. Beckstrom and Wolfe were in the nation's capital as part of a President's crime-fighting mission that involved taking over the local police department, which saw nearly 2,200 Guard members deployed to D.C. Following the shooting, the administration promptly ordered an additional 500 National Guard members to the city.

Lakanwal currently faces charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro commented on Thursday that it is "too soon to say" what the suspect's motives were, adding, "We are praying that they survive and that the highest charge will not have to be murder in the first degree. But make no mistake, if they do not, that will certainly be the charge."