West Virginia University's football team paused their matchup against Texas Tech on Saturday, taking a moment of silence to honor two National Guard soldiers shot in Washington, DC. The crowd observed the moment of silence as photos of US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom were displayed on the scoreboard.
The National Guardsmen were deployed to the DC area to tackle crime in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. Tragically, Beckstrom was killed during the shooting, while Wolfe remains in critical condition. The suspected shooter is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill.
According to eyewitness accounts, the shooting occurred in broad daylight, with the suspect firing 10-15 rounds from a .357 revolver before being shot by one of the Guardsmen. The incident is believed to have been an act of revenge against the US, with Lakanwal having entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration's Afghan evacuation and resettlement program.
As the nation mourns the loss of Beckstrom, Wolfe's family has called for prayers to aid his recovery. "Andrew is fighting for his life right now, and his family and all of his friends, they're trying to harvest as many prayers as possible from all across the country, all across the globe, to help him recover," said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with Representative Riley Moore describing Wolfe's condition as "hanging on." The West Virginia National Guard is known for its proud tradition of service, and this tragedy has left many feeling a sense of loss and grief.
The National Guardsmen were deployed to the DC area to tackle crime in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump. Tragically, Beckstrom was killed during the shooting, while Wolfe remains in critical condition. The suspected shooter is Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who has been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with intent to kill.
According to eyewitness accounts, the shooting occurred in broad daylight, with the suspect firing 10-15 rounds from a .357 revolver before being shot by one of the Guardsmen. The incident is believed to have been an act of revenge against the US, with Lakanwal having entered the country under Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration's Afghan evacuation and resettlement program.
As the nation mourns the loss of Beckstrom, Wolfe's family has called for prayers to aid his recovery. "Andrew is fighting for his life right now, and his family and all of his friends, they're trying to harvest as many prayers as possible from all across the country, all across the globe, to help him recover," said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with Representative Riley Moore describing Wolfe's condition as "hanging on." The West Virginia National Guard is known for its proud tradition of service, and this tragedy has left many feeling a sense of loss and grief.
. Two amazing young lives lost in such a senseless act of violence... US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe and 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom 
. My heart goes out to their families & loved ones, can't even imagine how tough this must be for them 
. And to think the shooter was an Afghan national who came in under Operation Allies Welcome 
, it's just soooo messed up 
. I'm so glad West Virginia University took a moment of silence to honor these heroes 
. I've been following Andrew's condition & his family is really counting on everyone's prayers for his recovery 
.
.
These soldiers were just doing their job, trying to keep the streets safe in DC, and they get gunned down in broad daylight? 
That's just insane. And it's not like we don't know about this kind of thing already - we've seen it happen before, but still... 
Like, who thought that was a good idea? 
We're just gonna open our borders and let anyone in, hoping they'll all be angels? 
Give me a break. I'm so glad we're having this moment of silence at the football game, but it's just a drop in the bucket. This is bigger than that, you know? 
It's about time someone did something about our country's security...
Can you believe this? I mean, who tries to take revenge on the US by shooting some poor Guardsmen? 
- you're already missing out on 20 whole years of life 
. And poor Andrew Wolfe, still clinging to life like a bad habit 
she was only 20 years old. we need more kindness and understanding in this world, less hate and anger 