West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey has condemned an ambush attack near the White House that resulted in the death of Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old member of the West Virginia National Guard, and left Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. The governor described the incident as an “unspeakable crime” demanding justice and a reassessment of national security policies.
Beckstrom was killed on Wednesday after being shot in an ambush near the White House while on high-visibility patrol with Wolfe, who remains in critical condition. Morrisey emphasized that West Virginians are united in grief and support for the National Guard members and their families. “It’s been a really tough stretch,” he said. “The families are really hurting right now because they know that this was a heinous act.”
Morrisey traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thanksgiving to meet with Guard members who served with Beckstrom and Wolfe, reaffirming the state’s commitment to standing behind them. “We want them to know that West Virginia has the Guard’s back,” he said. “We are never — and I mean never — going to be intimidated by these people, these nut jobs who want to come in and take on our people.”
The attack, attributed to a suspected Afghan national, has prompted Morrisey to call for stronger vetting and a review of prior immigration policies, particularly those used during the Biden administration’s evacuation and resettlement of Afghan nationals in 2021. “This was a failed policy on the part of the Biden administration,” he said. “This is what happens when you let people come in and you don’t have proper vetting. Vetting is paramount.”
Morrisey described the shooting as a ” wake-up call,” urging the U.S. to “take a close look at some of the ridiculous policies that were in place in the past” and ensure protecting the homeland remains the federal government’s top priority.
Wolfe, from Berkeley County, has been the subject of vigils and updates as residents await news on his condition. Morrisey noted that prayer has been a source of strength for the community, with West Virginians rallying behind the Guardsmen.
