Questions emerge about National Guard shooter’s motives and the impact on immigrants

John Yang:

Tonight, more details are coming to light about this week's shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members, one of them fatally, just blocks from the White House, and new questions are emerging about the shooter's motives and what the attack could mean for immigrants across the country.

Our coverage begins with White House correspondent Liz Landers.

Liz Landers:

Late last night, a vehicle procession in Washington, D.C., honoring 20-year-old U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who died yesterday after being shot near the White House on Wednesday.

Donald Trump, President of the United States: She's no longer with us. She's looking down at us right now.

Liz Landers:

From his residence in Florida, President Trump announced Beckstrom's death and was asked by reporters whether he'd attend her funeral.

Donald Trump:

I haven't thought about it yet, but it certainly is something I could conceive of. I love West Virginia. I won West Virginia by one of the biggest margins of any president anywhere.

Liz Landers:

The president was also asked about the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who was granted asylum in the United States after working with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Donald Trump:

He went cuckoo. I mean, he went nuts. And that happens too. It happens too often with these people.

Liz Landers:

Beckstrom was shot along with 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, also of West Virginia's National Guard.

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia: Our hearts go out.

Liz Landers:

Earlier today, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro spoke on FOX about the new charges filed against the suspect.

Jeanine Pirro:

We are upgrading the initial charges of assault to murder in the first degree. There will be no stone unturned in this case. We will know everything about what happened.

Liz Landers:

The president and his allies also took to social media, with Trump promising to — quote — "permanently pause migration from all Third World countries."

And his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, tweeted — quote — "that migrants and their descendants recreate the conditions and terrors of their broken homelands."

The shooter's motive for the attack remains unclear.

Woman:

We came to honor Ms. Beckstrom and Mr. Wolfe.

Liz Landers:

But back in her home state of West Virginia, vigils were held last night and today for Beckstrom, who enlisted in the National Guard in 2023.

Her father posted this message on Facebook, writing — quote — "My baby girl has passed to glory."

West Virginia's Governor Patrick Morrisey said 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who was also shot in the attack, remains in critical condition.