‘A Peacekeeper’: Sen. Capito Honors West Virginia Guardswoman Sarah Beckstrom After DC Ambush

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) paid tribute to U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, calling the 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member a “peacekeeper” who served with courage and honor after she was killed in a targeted ambush near the White House.

Beckstrom died Thursday after she and another guard member were ambushed Wednesday afternoon, roughly two blocks from the White House. U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, of Martinsburg, remains hospitalized in critical condition, Capito said, and she asked the public to keep him and the families involved in their thoughts and prayers.

Beckstrom and Wolfe were among about 2,100 National Guard members deployed to Washington, D.C., under an order intended to deter crime and bolster security in the capital. Capito defended the mission, saying the increased Guard presence has helped reduce violent crime in parts of the city and that she felt safer with a visible security presence.

“They volunteered on a mission that the President asked to come to Washington, D.C.… By bringing the National Guard or bringing a presence to the district, what happened? Murder rates are down. Violent assaults are down. Carjackings are down. People are safer,” Capito said during a news conference call.

Capito said she supports keeping West Virginia National Guard members in Washington on a voluntary basis. In August, up to 400 members of the West Virginia National Guard arrived for the assignment; roughly 160 remain as volunteers. A plan announced last week calls for those volunteers to stay through the end of 2025.

The man accused in the ambush has been described by officials as an Afghan national who had been granted asylum in the United States and lived in Washington State. Reflecting on the suspect’s presence in the U.S., Capito referenced the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and suggested the individual may have been swept up in that turmoil; she also said there are indications he “might have helped in some CIA direct missions,” remarks that remain unconfirmed and are under investigation.

President Trump announced a suspension of immigration requests for Afghan nationals and directed a review of the status of those admitted under the previous administration. Capito urged a review of vetting procedures for entrants from Afghanistan.

Capito acknowledged the Guard’s deployment to the capital is controversial but reiterated her view that Guard members are serving as peacekeepers. She said cooperation among local authorities, governors and the federal government is essential when additional security assistance is offered, noting earlier cooperation in Tennessee when the governor accepted Guard support in Memphis.

Note: Details are evolving as investigations continue. The remarks in this article reflect statements made by Sen. Capito and reporting available at the time of publication.