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Guardswoman Called D.C. Deployment 'Pointless' Before Fatal Shooting, Ex-Boyfriend Says

Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was fatally shot while on patrol in Washington, D.C.; fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition. Her former boyfriend, Adam Carr, said Beckstrom had grown frustrated that deputized Guardsmen were limited from detaining or intervening when harassed, calling the deployment "pointless." A 29-year-old Afghan immigrant has been arrested and charged in the case. President Trump announced Beckstrom's death and tied it to a pledge for stricter immigration measures.

01:07 PM, 11/29/2025Politics

Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was fatally shot while on patrol in Washington, D.C., on Thanksgiving Eve. Fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, was also shot and remains hospitalized in critical condition. A 29-year-old Afghan immigrant has been taken into custody and charged in connection with the incident.

Beckstrom's former boyfriend, Adam Carr, said she had grown increasingly frustrated during the deployment because strict limits prevented Guardsmen from detaining or intervening when they faced harassment.

"She said people spit toward us, cuss at us, throw things at us, and we can't do anything," Carr said. "They told them to call the cops. She wanted to make a difference, but she kept asking, 'Why am I here if I can't do anything? It's pointless.'"

According to Carr, Beckstrom was proud to serve but repeatedly questioned the restrictions placed on her unit. He said she felt constrained by rules that left Guardsmen unable to stop wrongdoing they witnessed while deputized in the district.

President Donald Trump announced Beckstrom's death, describing her as a "highly respected, young, magnificent person" and noting she began service in June 2023. He also used the announcement to reiterate plans to tighten U.S. immigration policy, saying he would "permanently pause" migration from certain countries.

Authorities say the suspect is in custody and has been charged; investigators continue to examine the circumstances and motive behind the attack. Family members, fellow service members, and local officials have expressed grief and called for a full investigation into the shooting and the operational rules that shaped the deployment.

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