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

Illinois Quick Hits: Indiana governor touts True Value move from Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Indiana governor touts True Value move from Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Do it Best Group says relocating its True Value hardware headquarters from Chicago to Do It Best’s...
Dem leaders want transparency, unsure if ethics report will be released

Dem leaders want transparency, unsure if ethics report will be released

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After state Rep. Harry Benton stepped down from his seat after findings in an ethics investigation, top...
Flash index shows rising tax receipts in Illinois

Flash index shows rising tax receipts in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois income tax and sales tax receipts are up for the fiscal year that ended on June...
Illinois Quick Hits: Aqua seeks water rate hike

Illinois Quick Hits: Aqua seeks water rate hike

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another Illinois utility wants to raise rates on consumers. The Citizens Utility Board said a proposed $26.5...
Pritzker signs AI regulation critics say harms innovation, ‘picks winners’

Pritzker signs AI regulation critics say harms innovation, ‘picks winners’

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Monday that he and lawmakers said intends to provide new protections...
500-plus fugitives arrested across two states

500-plus fugitives arrested across two states

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 400 fugitives have been arrested in Illinois, and another 117 in Missouri, over the last...
Illinois Quick Hits: Woman sentenced for voting twice

Illinois Quick Hits: Woman sentenced for voting twice

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Hoopeston woman has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500...

Embattled state lawmaker resigns after investigation into ‘unethical’ behavior

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After two days of calls for his resignation by Democrat leaders, embattled Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton,...
New statewide tenant law signed; Chicago seeks to push further

New statewide tenant law signed; Chicago seeks to push further

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law into effect that lawmakers say intends to increase renter protections...
Illinois Quick Hits: 179 charged in 'badgeless' federal enforcement

Illinois Quick Hits: 179 charged in ‘badgeless’ federal enforcement

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros says 179 people have been charged in...
Poll: Voters more likely to support GOP over Trump

Poll: Voters more likely to support GOP over Trump

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Republican voters are more likely to identify themselves as supporters of the party itself rather than supporters of President Donald Trump, results of a new...
Report: Texas and Florida are leading in tort reform, Boom Belt success

Report: Texas and Florida are leading in tort reform, Boom Belt success

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas and Florida are leading in tort reform, bringing more business and economic growth to southern Boom Belt states, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute...
Poll: 96% want Senate candidates to address Social Security cuts

Poll: 96% want Senate candidates to address Social Security cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Ninety-six percent of voters want Senate candidates to explain how they'll prevent an automatic 22% Social Security benefit cut for 70 million Americans, a new...
Energy group praises bill curbing EPA regulatory 'abuses'

Energy group praises bill curbing EPA regulatory ‘abuses’

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Recently introduced legislation that would rein in certain regulatory powers of the Environmental Protection Agency has drawn praise from dozens of energy industry groups. The...
Taxpayer cost questions surround push for suicide prevention measures on I-74 Bridge

Taxpayer cost questions surround push for suicide prevention measures on I-74 Bridge

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Suicide prevention advocates are renewing calls for safety measures on the Interstate 74 Bridge, arguing that...