By Charles CreitzPublished December 11, 2025
Fox News
VideoThe top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee was lambasted, almost immediately, for referring to the shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen in Washington as an "unfortunate accident" during a hearing Thursday.
On Thanksgiving Eve, WVNG Spc. Sarah Beckstrom of Webster County was killed and Andrew Wolfe of Berkeley County was gravely wounded allegedly by Rahmanullah Lakanwal – an Afghan refugee living in Bellingham, Washington.
During the "Worldwide Threats to the Homeland" hearing, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi pivoted to Homeland Security Kristi Noem after sparring with FBI Operations Director Michael Glasheen about the whereabouts of Antifa’s headquarters, to ask who approved Lakanwal’s vetting.
"Madam Secretary, you and the gentleman from NCTC (Joe Kent) reference the unfortunate accident that occurred with the National Guardsman being killed," Thompson told Noem.
Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, left, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, right, are seen in a hearing. (Fox News/Pool)
The secretary shot back: "You think that was an unfortunate accident? It was a terrorist attack."
Thompson waved his hand up to gesture tward Noem, replying: "I’ll get it straight – then you can respond."
Noem replied: "He shot our national guardsmen in the head."
Top Homeland Security Dem blasted for calling WV National Guard shooting ‘unfortunate accident’
Rep. Bennie Thompson faced criticism for calling the shooting of National Guardsmen by Afghan refugee an "unfortunate accident" during a House hearing.