West Virginia Mourns National Guard Member Killed in DC Shooting as Afghan Suspect’s Background Sparks Outrage

CHARLES TOWN, W.V. – A Thanksgiving Eve shooting that left one West Virginia National Guard member dead and another critically wounded has sent shockwaves through the state, with officials expressing both grief and anger over the suspect’s ties to the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Sarah Beckstrom of Summersville has died from her injuries, while Andrew Wolfe of Inwood remains in critical condition following the shooting near the White House on Wednesday. The suspect, 29-year-old Rahmahullah Lakanwal, reportedly worked with a CIA-operated unit that fought the Taliban on America’s behalf and helped evacuate people during the fall of Kabul under the Biden administration.

“It’s just been a horrible tragedy here in West Virginia,” said Josh Holstein, West Virginia Republican Party Chairman and state delegate from Boone County. “This doesn’t happen for West Virginians very often, and it’s just such a deep tragedy.”

Holstein described West Virginia as “one big small town” where residents unite during both triumphant and tragic moments. “Folks come together in tragedy, in triumph, in everything. We come together and we celebrate, we mourn, always together,” he told Fox News Digital.

The shooting has transcended political divides in the state, with officials from both parties expressing solidarity and grief. From Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin to Republican Senators Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito, leaders across the political spectrum offered heartfelt reactions to the tragedy.

“West Virginians of all political sides of the aisle came together and just mourned and shared a sense of deep grief, but not only grief, but gratitude for these folks,” Holstein said. He noted that Thanksgiving Day was particularly somber as families across the state were reminded that “not all of us get together with our families on Thanksgiving.”

Holstein highlighted West Virginia’s strong tradition of military service, noting the state’s high per capita rate of veterans compared to other states. “We’re always willing and always able to serve each other… it’s really a perfect description of who West Virginians are,” he said.

As details about Lakanwal’s background emerged, Holstein expressed fury, stating that the Afghan national “was not even supposed to be here.” He placed blame squarely on the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which he described as a “complete debacle.”

“When you create chaos, chaos follows,” Holstein said. “It led to people literally running and jumping on planes and coming to the United States as a result of it. It was complete chaos. There was not a deliberate system, irrespective of what any of the administration officials of the past administration had said about it.”

Holstein characterized the incident as “an indictment on our country’s immigration system,” arguing that the current system “doesn’t put American citizens first, it doesn’t put the good of the country first.” He expressed support for President Donald Trump’s pledges to implement stricter vetting procedures for immigrants, particularly those from unstable regions.

Despite the tragedy, Holstein remained resolute in his support for the continued deployment of West Virginia National Guard members to Washington, DC, as part of Trump’s efforts to address crime in the nation’s capital. Approximately 150 other guardsmen from West Virginia are currently serving in Washington.

“We can’t cower to people like this. You can’t cower in tragedy,” Holstein said. “I hope to see everybody stay there and maybe even have some more folks come in from different places.”

The shooting occurred just as the Trump administration has begun federalizing DC’s police department, a move that has generated both criticism and support from district residents. The incident has renewed debates about immigration policies, national security, and the aftermath of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

As West Virginia continues to mourn, the incident has highlighted both the state’s close-knit community values and the broader national security concerns that continue to resonate three years after the U.S. exit from Afghanistan.