National Guard member shot near White House dies

National Guard member shot near White House dies

November 28, 2025/
Spread the love

By Kim Jarrett
The Center Square

One of the National Guard members shot near the White House on Wednesday died from her injuries, President Donald Trump said.

U.S. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, a 20-year-old from West Virginia, died from her injuries. Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe, 24, also of West Virginia, remains in critical condition.

Beckstrom started serving in the National Guard in June 2023 and was “outstanding in every single way, in every department,” Trump said.

The suspected gunman, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is an Afghan national who entered the country in 2021 under former President Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome, according to the FBI.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Lakanwal had a “relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces.” Patel said in a Thanksgiving Day news conference that the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Lakanwal was shot during the incident and is at an area hospital, officials said. The charges against him are expected to be upgraded now that one of the guard members has died.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Homan touts progress; vows Trump administration won't back down on immigration

Homan touts progress; vows Trump administration won’t back down on immigration

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square “Progress” is being made in Minnesota, Border Czar Tom Homan said during a news conference Thursday after being on the ground since Monday evening. Homan...
WATCH: Congressional seat at stake; Pritzker on Medicaid costs, school choice, ICE

WATCH: Congressional seat at stake; Pritzker on Medicaid costs, school choice, ICE

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square's Greg Bishop continues to unpack data...
Illinois Quick Hits: Man charged with threatening ICE agents

Illinois Quick Hits: Man charged with threatening ICE agents

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois man is charged with threatening to kill federal agents working for U.S. Immigration and Customs...
Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for Minnesota governor

Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces run for Minnesota governor

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced Thursday morning that she will be running for Minnesota governor in the 2026 election cycle. This comes after current Gov....
Will County Board Graphic.04

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board for January 15, 2026

Will County Board Meeting | January 15, 2026 Meeting SummaryThe Will County Board met on January 15, 2026, to tackle a heavy agenda focused on infrastructure investment, legislative policy, and...
EXCLUSIVE: Minnesota workers say leaders rejected years of fraud warnings

EXCLUSIVE: Minnesota workers say leaders rejected years of fraud warnings

By Jared StrongThe Center Square Claims from current and former Minnesota state employees that have been vetted by state lawmakers allege their bosses ignored and rebuked fraud warnings for years,...
Remote marriage license bill faces skepticism from former clerk

Remote marriage license bill faces skepticism from former clerk

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A new Illinois proposal aimed at expanding access to marriage licenses for people with disabilities or...
Lawsuit: Illinois Dems can’t use state law to control the name ‘democrat’

Lawsuit: Illinois Dems can’t use state law to control the name ‘democrat’

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A group of Illinois Democrats who disagree with the power structure of their party on how to address transgender civil rights law...

Senators weigh American privacy risks in FBI Investigations

By Emily RodriguezThe Center Square The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Wednesday to consider the reauthorization of a surveillance tool that has improperly collected citizens' private conversations. The Foreign...
Illinois quick hits: John Deere to build in North Carolina

Illinois quick hits: John Deere to build in North Carolina

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square John Deere to build in North Carolina Illinois-based John Deere has announced that it will open new facilities in North Carolina...
State rep questions Pritzker move to 'expand and expand and expand' on abortion

State rep questions Pritzker move to ‘expand and expand and expand’ on abortion

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A member of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration says Medicaid plays a critical role for reproductive health services...
$1,000 Trump accounts to start July 4

$1,000 Trump accounts to start July 4

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square "Trump accounts" will launch beginning July 4, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. The "Trump account" initiative was included in the "Big Beautiful Bill" signed into...
Rubio explains reasoning behind Trump's Venezuela strikes in Senate hearing

Rubio explains reasoning behind Trump’s Venezuela strikes in Senate hearing

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Amid congressional outcry over the Trump administration’s military actions in Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the moves Wednesday and outlined future plans to...
WATCH: Kelly to vote against funding Homeland Security

WATCH: Kelly to vote against funding Homeland Security

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly has announced he will vote "no" for the Department of Homeland Security budget this week following the fatal shootings in Minneapolis....
Census projections show red states to see gains in U.S. House seats, electoral college

Census projections show red states to see gains in U.S. House seats, electoral college

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Several blue states appear set to lose electoral college votes while red states will make sweeping gains, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests....