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

House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

House GOP pushes Pritzker for local control

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans say Governor J.B. Pritzker’s housing proposals will give local control to state politicians, but...
Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

Illinois Quick Hits: Freedom Caucus urges DOJ investigation of Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Freedom Caucus is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate whether the Illinois...
Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

Hundreds of Uber drivers demand union-permitting bill move in Springfield

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Nearly 400 drivers for platforms like Uber and Lyft appeared at the Illinois Capitol, where they urged...
Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

Summons issued to ISP, AG Cook County in FOID challenge

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Officials with the Illinois State Police, attorney general’s office and Cook County state’s attorney have been summoned...
Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

Pritzker knocks state progressives’ ability to pass new tax measures

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ruled out the passage of many new tax proposals from progressive lawmakers before...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker talks Bears stadium with NFL commissioner

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker talks Bears stadium with NFL commissioner

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated that the Chicago Bears are...
Election 2026: Whatley gets another breath of Trump tailwind

Election 2026: Whatley gets another breath of Trump tailwind

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Needing a lift as polls favor his opponent, Republican Michael Whatley on Tuesday got another breath of tailwind from the White House. Candidates endorsed by...
Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

Op-Ed: Oversight faps in federal drug program put Illinois’ independent practices at risk

By Dr. Priya BansalThe Center Square Community-based care is part of the fabric of the healthcare system in Illinois. As an allergist and immunologist practicing in St. Charles, I take...
Costco suit highlights gaps in $166B tariff refund process

Costco suit highlights gaps in $166B tariff refund process

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Warehouse retailer Costco Wholesale asked a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking consumer tariff refunds, saying the claims are premature and meritless,...
Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

Support swells across the aisle for $580B BUILD America 250 Act

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Five-year plans for American roads, bridges, transit, rail transportation, and highway and motor carrier safety programs reaches an 18-month crescendo Thursday with a committee markup...
Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

Revised bipartisan housing bill passes U.S. House, one step closer to becoming law

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed its revised version of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, sending the bipartisan legislation meant to address the housing...
War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

War of words reignites with Trump, Pritzker, Bailey

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – President Donald Trump has resumed his war of words with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who responded by...
Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer's ties to grant scandal

Nesbitt asks DOJ to investigate Whitmer’s ties to grant scandal

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan Senate Republican Leader Aric Nesbitt is calling for a federal investigation into Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s connections to former ally and donor Fay Beydoun following...
Senate Republicans' rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

Senate Republicans’ rebellion in War Powers Resolution vote could sway House vote

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In a remarkable rebuke of the Trump administration's mission against Iran, the U.S. Senate narrowly advanced a War Powers Resolution when a handful of Republicans...
Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

Cassidy breaks with Trump on Iran, spending after reelection defeat

By Nolan MckendryThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., broke with President Donald Trump on multiple fronts this week after losing his reelection bid, including joining a Senate vote...