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

Lawmaker, officer: 'Blue Envelope" could help navigate autism during stops

Lawmaker, officer: ‘Blue Envelope” could help navigate autism during stops

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois lawmaker who also serves in law enforcement says proposed legislation creating a “Blue Envelope”...
Will County P&Z Logo Planning Zoning.2

Will County P&Z Grants Variances for Unpermitted Structures in Crete and Manhattan

Will County P&Z Commission Meeting | Jan. 20, 2026 Article Summary: The Planning and Zoning Commission approved variances for property owners in Crete and Manhattan who built agricultural structures without...
Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens

Senate GOP fails to halt welfare funding for non-citizens

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square U.S. Senate Republicans failed to halt over $5 billion in funding for refugees, with 20 GOP senators joining every Senate Democrat to continue providing costly...
Senate passes funding deal, sends to House for final approval

Senate passes funding deal, sends to House for final approval

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. Senate sent a $1.2 trillion government funding package back to the House for approval Friday night, ensuring a partial government shutdown over the...
California group opposes property tax hike, billionaires' tax

California group opposes property tax hike, billionaires’ tax

By Madeline ShannonThe Center Square Officials with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association are concerned about efforts to raise property taxes on California’s homeowners, a representative of the organization told The...
Illinois quick hits: New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed

Illinois quick hits: New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square New Illinois Supreme Court justice installed The newest member of the Illinois Supreme Court has been installed. Former appellate court justice...
High schools throughout California stage walkouts over ICE

High schools throughout California stage walkouts over ICE

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Hundreds of students at high schools throughout California held walkouts Friday over immigration raids and the law enforcement-involved deaths of two people in Minneapolis. Schools...
Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district

Pritzker celebrates expansion of French cheese maker in GOP leader’s district

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is celebrating the expansion of a French cheese-making facility in Illinois House Republican Leader...

WATCH: WA GOP lawmaker asking Trump administration to investigate fraud allegations

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square A Washington state lawmaker is asking President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential self-dealing and fraud within taxpayer subsidized programs...
IL Accountability Commission chair: “People need to be prosecuted”

IL Accountability Commission chair: “People need to be prosecuted”

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Accountability Commission is studying changes in federal immigration law enforcement after President Donald Trump’s border...
Graham blocks govt. funding vote over policy demands as deadline looms

Graham blocks govt. funding vote over policy demands as deadline looms

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With only hours before the federal government runs out of money, tensions are rising in the U.S. Senate as a handful of Republicans block a...
Trump sues the IRS for $10 billion

Trump sues the IRS for $10 billion

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square President Donald Trump, his eldest two sons and the Trump organization have filed a lawsuit against the IRS, seeking at least $10 billion in damages...
Walz, Ellison to appear before House Oversight Committee

Walz, Ellison to appear before House Oversight Committee

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Amid allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota, the U.S. House Oversight Committee said Friday that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison will...
BREAKING: Don Lemon arrested for involvement in church attack

BREAKING: Don Lemon arrested for involvement in church attack

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Federal officials announced another series of arrests in connection with a protest that disrupted a Sunday morning church service in St. Paul on Jan. 18....
Lawmaker calls Pretti shooting an injustice, points to NRA statement as validation

Lawmaker calls Pretti shooting an injustice, points to NRA statement as validation

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square In a video circulating on social media, Illinois state Rep. Bob Morgan seized on comments from the National Rifle Association regarding the controversial shooting of...