Trump orders flags to be flown at half-staff for slain Nationwide Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom – One America Information Community

[ad_1] <img decoding="async" width="800" height="534" src="https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Featured-Images-2.png" alt="(Background) The flag on the south lawn of the White House flies at half staff in honor of Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia National Guard, who was shot and killed last week near the White House, on December 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Beckstrom was shot alongside fellow guardsman Andrew Wolfe, who remains hospitalized. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan immigrant has been arrested for the shooting. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) / (C) A makeshift memorial stands outside the Farragut West Metro station on December 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two West Virginia National Guard troops who were shot blocks from the White House on November 26, died on Thursday, November 27, following what authorities called a targeted attack. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)" class="wp-image-742413" srcset="https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Featured-Images-2.png 800w, https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Featured-Images-2-400x267.png 400w, https://www.oann.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Featured-Images-2-768x513.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"/> (Background) The flag on the south garden of the White Home flies at half employees in honor of Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia Nationwide Guard, who was shot and killed final week close to the White Home, on December 04, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photograph by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos) / (C) A makeshift memorial stands exterior the Farragut West Metro station. (Photograph by Heather Diehl/Getty Photos)

OAN Workers Katherine Mosack2:40 PM – Thursday, December 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of 20-year-old U.S. Military Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, the Nationwide Guardsman who was fatally shot close to the White Home final week.

Thursday’s proclamation reads, “As a mark of respect for the reminiscence of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, West Virginia Military Nationwide Guard, by the authority vested in me as President of the US by the Structure and the legal guidelines of the US of America, I hereby order that the flag of the US shall be flown at half-staff on the White Home and upon all public buildings and grounds, in any respect army posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Authorities within the District of Columbia and all through the US and its Territories and possessions till sundown, December 4, 2025.”

Flags on the White Home are lowered to half-staff in reminiscence of Military Specialist Sarah Beckstrom.

Might God bless her household, our Nationwide Guard heroes, and the US of America. 🙏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OyOGMc0dv3

— Speedy Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 4, 2025

Beckstrom was simply 20 years outdated when she handed away in late November from her accidents, a day after a 29-year-old Afghan gunman purportedly opened fireplace on two Nationwide Guard troops in Washington, D.C.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the accused gunman, entered the U.S. in 2021 as a part of the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative, which resettled Afghans within the nation after former President Joe Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal. His asylum software was accredited in April this yr.

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Following the taking pictures, one other close by Guardsman, with out a firearm, tackled the suspect and stabbed him earlier than extra Guardsmen chimed in to shoot him down. was shot by regulation enforcement in the course of the incident and transported to a hospital for remedy.

U.S. Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro warned that if both of the 2 wounded Guardsmen handed, Lakanwal can be charged with first-degree homicide. He's additionally charged with intent to kill whereas armed and possession of a firearm throughout a criminal offense of violence.

On Tuesday, Lakanwal pleaded not responsible to all prices, showing earlier than a decide in D.C. Superior Courtroom nearly from his hospital mattress.

The opposite wounded Nationwide Guard member, Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, nonetheless stays in important situation.

Following the tragedy, President Trump known as the taking pictures a “terrorist assault” and resolved to pause migration from 19 international locations thought-about to pose excessive dangers to nationwide safety, on account of their weak vetting processes. Afghanistan is included on the record.