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'Our hearts are heavy for the loss' - Hegseth holds prayer for servicemen following National Guard shooting in DC

'Our hearts are heavy for the loss' - Hegseth holds prayer for servicemen following National Guard shooting in DC

"US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth led prayers for American soldiers across the country in Washington, DC, on Friday, following a shooting on Wednesday that killed one National Guard member and left another in critical condition. "Our hearts are heavy right now for the loss of specialist Sarah Beckstrom [...] Brutally targeted, ambushed on the street," Hegseth honoured the 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, after she was confirmed dead in the hospital after the assault. "We also pray for the Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe of the Air National Guard, an airman fighting for his life right now. My wife and I had a chance briefly last night to be there, lay hands on him and pray over him," the secretary continued. 24-year-old Wolfe remains in the hospital in critical condition after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. "Dear Heavenly Father, we don't understand your ways all the time," Hegseth expressed. He reaffirmed full support for troops on both international and domestic missions, stressing, "We know the job you do and the reasons you do it because of your country [...] That's the real core of who you are. Forget the foolish talk. Forget the nonsense. We'll deal with that." The shooting took place on Wednesday at Washington's Farragut West metro station, less than 500 metres from the White House, leaving two West Virginia guardsmen hospitalised after the attack. President Donald Trump confirmed Beckstrom's death on Thursday. Hegseth said the president has ordered 500 additional troops to Washington to bolster security around federal buildings. The Department of Homeland Security revealed that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who had moved to the US in 2021. President Trump described the alleged assailant as an 'animal' and vowed that the shooter 'will pay a very steep price'. Later in the day, Trump also posted on his Truth Social account that he will 'permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries' to America."

'Our hearts are heavy for the loss' - Hegseth holds prayer for servicemen following National Guard shooting in DC

'Our hearts are heavy for the loss' - Hegseth holds prayer for servicemen following National Guard shooting in DC

"US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth led prayers for American soldiers across the country in Washington, DC, on Friday, following a shooting on Wednesday that killed one National Guard member and left another in critical condition. "Our hearts are heavy right now for the loss of specialist Sarah Beckstrom [...] Brutally targeted, ambushed on the street," Hegseth honoured the 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, after she was confirmed dead in the hospital after the assault. "We also pray for the Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe of the Air National Guard, an airman fighting for his life right now. My wife and I had a chance briefly last night to be there, lay hands on him and pray over him," the secretary continued. 24-year-old Wolfe remains in the hospital in critical condition after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. "Dear Heavenly Father, we don't understand your ways all the time," Hegseth expressed. He reaffirmed full support for troops on both international and domestic missions, stressing, "We know the job you do and the reasons you do it because of your country [...] That's the real core of who you are. Forget the foolish talk. Forget the nonsense. We'll deal with that." The shooting took place on Wednesday at Washington's Farragut West metro station, less than 500 metres from the White House, leaving two West Virginia guardsmen hospitalised after the attack. President Donald Trump confirmed Beckstrom's death on Thursday. Hegseth said the president has ordered 500 additional troops to Washington to bolster security around federal buildings. The Department of Homeland Security revealed that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is a 29-year-old Afghan national who had moved to the US in 2021. President Trump described the alleged assailant as an 'animal' and vowed that the shooter 'will pay a very steep price'. Later in the day, Trump also posted on his Truth Social account that he will 'permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries' to America."