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

manhattan park district graphic.1

Manhattan Park District Advances Round Barn Renovations, Launches Girls’ Softball Following Minor ‘Winter Fest’ Fire

Manhattan Park Board Meeting | February 12, 2026 Article Summary: The Manhattan Park District is expanding its recreational offerings with a new girls' softball league while simultaneously executing extensive renovations...
will county Committee-Capital Improvement.Graphic

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Capital Improvements & IT Committee for March 3, 2026

Capital Improvements & IT Committee Meeting | March 2026 The Will County Capital Improvements and IT Committee met on Tuesday to address the county's physical and digital infrastructure. The meeting...
Lincoln Way West Warriors Softball

Lincoln-Way West Pitching Tosses One-Hitter in 11-0 Rout of Plainfield South

The Lincoln-Way West varsity softball team delivered a suffocating one-hit shutout on Tuesday afternoon, rolling to an 11-0 non-conference road victory over Plainfield South in a five-inning, run-rule shortened contest....
Chicago can’t ditch airlines’ suit vs ‘disruptive’ paid sick leave rules

Chicago can’t ditch airlines’ suit vs ‘disruptive’ paid sick leave rules

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Saying it appears likely the city's sick leave ordinance would disrupt airlines' ability to function, a federal judge has rejected Chicago City...
FEMA says funding debate didn't affect response to Hawaii

FEMA says funding debate didn’t affect response to Hawaii

By Liam HibbertThe Center Square The partial federal government shutdown did not impact the Federal Emergency Management Agency's immediate response to the severe flooding in Hawaii, a FEMA spokesperson told...
Maryland Supreme Court tosses Blue cities' climate lawsuits against energy companies

Maryland Supreme Court tosses Blue cities’ climate lawsuits against energy companies

By Dan McCalebThe Center Square The Maryland Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed three lawsuits filed by Democrat-run jurisdictions claiming oil and gas companies concealed information about their products’ contributions to...
Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

Arizona Senate majority leader blasts Phoenix resolution limiting ICE operations

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Arizona Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh is criticizing the city of Phoenix for its resolution restricting federal immigration enforcement. Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told The Center...
$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

$4.4B budget request for new Illinois early childhood agency draws scrutiny

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An agency focused on early childhood education created by state lawmakers in 2024 has made its first...
Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

Lawmaker, officer warns Elgin officer firing could chill free speech

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker and law enforcement officer is sharply criticizing the city of Elgin’s decision to...
Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

Airline nixes perk for flying lawmakers as DHS shutdown continues

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square As a partial government shutdown continues, one major airline has suspended services for flying lawmakers as travel chaos builds at U.S. airports. The ongoing partial...
Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

Student sues school over removal of Charlie Kirk tribute

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square A North Carolina high school student is suing over alleged violations of her constitutional rights after her school painted over her Charlie Kirk tribute and...
Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

Illinois quick hits: Coalition calls for more action on data centers

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Coalition calls for more action on data centers The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition says more action is needed from the Illinois...
Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

Asylum advocates disappointed by Supreme Court arguments

By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square Immigration asylum advocates expressed disappointment with justices on the Supreme Court after arguments Tuesday regarding asylum protections. The case, Noem v. Al...
IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

IL House GOP asks “Have you had enough yet” following student’s murder

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After the alleged murder of a Loyola University student by a migrant who was in the country...
EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

EXCLUSIVE: 5-year anniversary of Operation Lone Star, nearly 540,000 apprehended

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas’ border security mission, Operation Lone Star, reached a milestone in March, its five-year anniversary. Gov. Greg Abbott first launched OLS in March 2021, in...