One of the national guards shot in a targeted attack in Washington DC has died, officials have confirmed. Trump has said the female member, identified earlier as Sarah Beckstrom, 20, had died from her injuries, Sky News reports.
The news comes after it has been confirmed that the suspected shooter was an Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The incident is being investigated by the FBI as an act of terror.
According to NY Post, Lakanwal was allegedly lying in wait before he rounded the corner near the Farragut West Metro Station in Northwest DC around 2.15pm on Wednesday, November 26 then opened fire, striking Sarah in the chest before shooting her in the head, according to law enforcement sources.
Following the gunshots the suspect was reportedly shot four times before being taken away nearly naked in an ambulance. West Virginia governor Patrick Morrisey initially said the two guards had died, but later made a correction clarifying that his office was “receiving conflicting reports” about their condition.
The guards were reportedly taken to two separate hospitals and were in critical condition, though one has now died, reports The Mirror.
“They answered the call, they volunteered, they put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know – and that is becoming a reality more and more for members of law enforcement,” US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said. A suspect, who was already in custody, was also shot and sustained injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, according to a law enforcement source.
Trump has extended his sympathies to the families affected and launched a blistering attack on Joe Biden‘s presidency and immigration laws in a statement to the nation.
The US President branded the former president as the ‘worst in the history of our country’ for allowing ’20 million unknown and unvetted foreigners’ into the country.
Jeffery Carroll, the executive assistant Washington police chief, revealed that the attacker “came around the corner” and immediately began firing at the troops approximately two blocks northwest of the White House. Upon hearing the gunfire, other troops in the vicinity rushed over and restrained the gunman.
Trump further warned that the suspected shooter “will pay a very steep price” for his actions. A post from US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced: “Effective immediately, processing of all immigration requests relating to Afghan nationals is stopped indefinitely pending further review of security and vetting protocols. The protection and safety of our homeland and of the American people remains our singular focus and mission.”
An Afghan advocacy group also denounced the attack but insisted it should not be used to “isolate or harm” Afghans who have resettled in America.
