By Blessing Nweke
President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has invited the family of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old National Guard member fatally shot last week in Washington, D.C., to the White House. Trump said he spoke with Beckstrom’s parents, describing them as “devastated,” and added that he also hopes to welcome the family of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who remains in critical condition.
“I said, ‘When you’re ready… come to the White House. We’re going to honor Sarah,’” Trump told reporters. “And likewise with Andrew, recover or not.”
Beckstrom and Wolfe, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were deployed to the nation’s capital as part of Trump’s expanded crime-fighting initiative, which federalized the D.C. police force. The shooting has prompted widespread grief in their home communities and renewed political debate over the deployment.
In West Virginia, hundreds gathered Saturday night at Webster County High School, where Beckstrom once studied, for a candlelight vigil. Principal Gabriel Markle remembered her as “the kind of student teachers hoped for,” praising her quiet strength, warm smile, and willingness to help others.
Authorities have charged a 29-year-old Afghan national with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill. In response, the Trump administration temporarily halted asylum decisions and paused the issuance of visas for Afghan passport holders.
Funeral arrangements for Beckstrom are still being finalized, according to Dodd & Reed Funeral Home. Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who visited Wolfe’s family earlier in the day, described the moment as profoundly difficult for the state. Calling Beckstrom a “favorite daughter of Webster County,” he highlighted her dedication as a military police officer who enlisted in 2023.
“She had a lot of kindness, and she certainly had courage,” Morrisey told the crowd. “Though her life was far too short, she leaves a legacy that will last forever.”
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