CRBC News
Culture
Society
Security
Health
Conflict
Science
Technology
Politics
Environment
Lifestyle
Economy

Downtown D.C. Retailers Reeling After Shooting of National Guard Members Near Farragut West

Merchants near the Farragut West Metro station are reeling after a lone gunman shot two West Virginia National Guard members; 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom later died of her wounds. Local shop and restaurant managers described locking doors and sheltering customers, and many said the Guard's presence since August had reduced petty crime. Community reactions to possible additional troop deployments are mixed, with some welcoming extra protection and others concerned about making service members targets.

09:01 PM, 11/29/2025Security
Downtown D.C. Retailers Reeling After Shooting of National Guard Members Near Farragut West

Business owners and employees near the Farragut West Metro station in downtown Washington, D.C., are shaken after a lone gunman shot two West Virginia National Guard members outside the station. Twenty-year-old Sarah Beckstrom died Thursday evening; her fellow service member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, was also wounded. Both had been deployed to the capital in August as part of a law-enforcement surge.

Eyewitness accounts

Fasil Regassa, who runs a 7-Eleven across from the station with his wife, said he wiped away tears when speaking about Beckstrom. When the shooting began, Regassa locked the front doors and moved three or four customers to a back room for safety. He said the Guard's presence had made the neighborhood feel safer since their arrival.

Rosa Fuentes, manager of Tatte Bakery & Cafe less than a block away, described locking her doors and sheltering customers after hearing gunfire. She recalled seeing a woman outside "crying, shaking and panicking" and letting her into the cafe. Fuentes said she admired the Guard members who visit her shop but is conflicted about plans to deploy additional troops because she worries about the safety of those service members.

Gyanu Sapkota, who has managed a Subway near Farragut Square for 18 years, said Guard members often stopped by his shop and that Beckstrom and Wolfe looked familiar. He added that shoplifting and petty theft had declined since the Guard arrived and that employees felt safer.

Mixed reactions from the business community

Managers of local banks and other shops reported locking doors and taking cover as police responded and people ran past store windows. Reactions to the Guard deployment were mixed: some merchants welcomed additional troops as another layer of protection, while others argued that military personnel could become targets and urged more community-based approaches to reduce violence.

Memorial and community response

A makeshift memorial at the Farragut West entrance grew as residents left flowers, flags and notes. A young Marine placed roses, an American flag patch and challenge coins at the site and called for an end to political finger-pointing, saying the community should honor the life lost.

The neighborhood is grieving and debating how best to balance public safety and the protection of deployed service members. Reporting for this piece includes interviews with local business owners and eyewitnesses.

Similar Articles

Trending