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

U.S. House to vote on government funding stopgap

U.S. House to vote on government funding stopgap

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Republican lawmakers have teed up a Continuing Resolution that would extend government funding at current levels until Dec. 4, punting the government shutdown deadline by...
Trump vows retaliation for U.S. service members' deaths

Trump vows retaliation for U.S. service members’ deaths

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square For a 10th consecutive night, the U.S. is carrying out strikes on Iran, targeting the Islamic Republic’s ability to attack commercial ships in the Strait...
Forecasters split on midterms, but a sweep is possible, maybe likely

Forecasters split on midterms, but a sweep is possible, maybe likely

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Forecasters say Democrats are favored to take the U.S. House this November while Republicans are favored to hold the Senate, yet the likeliest outcome is...
Group behind tariff challenge calls Pritzker’s refund check demand irrational

Group behind tariff challenge calls Pritzker’s refund check demand irrational

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As over $86 billion has begun making its way back to small businesses impacted by tariffs imposed...
Abbott: Flooding worse in Kerrville this year than in 2025

Abbott: Flooding worse in Kerrville this year than in 2025

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The historic rainfall in central and south Texas that continues to cause significant flooding is worse this year than it was during the historic July...
House Oversight to examine Medicare fraud, Smithsonian, DEI policies

House Oversight to examine Medicare fraud, Smithsonian, DEI policies

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is set to host three hearings on issues that have been ongoing priorities for...
Judge delays merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.

Judge delays merger between Paramount and Warner Bros.

By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A federal judge Monday granted a temporary restraining order halting the $110 billion merger between Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. and Paramount Skydance Corp. A coalition...
Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member's death

Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member’s death

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Ammons House investigation hearing set The Illinois House Special Investigative Committee appointed to look into alleged wrongdoings by Rep. Carol Ammons,...
Darline Graham will file for full term succeeding brother Lindsey

Darline Graham will file for full term succeeding brother Lindsey

By Alan WootenThe Center Square U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, sworn in last Tuesday to fulfill the remainder of her brother Lindsey Graham’s term, said Monday she’ll file for the special...
Election 2026: Prisoners in historic release by Cooper consistent in pattern

Election 2026: Prisoners in historic release by Cooper consistent in pattern

By Alan WootenThe Center Square More than 700 prisoners released in addition to U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper’s historic settlement-based 3,500 have a pattern consistent with either homicide, sex offenses,...
Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political

Secretary of State says insurance reforms are not political

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says he is offended by a state lawmaker’s suggestion that Giannoulias...
Details show speaker delayed lawmaker misconduct action

Details show speaker delayed lawmaker misconduct action

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New investigative reporting revealed last week that Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch knew of misconduct by...
Man suspected of using ‘incendiary device’ arrested outside NYC immigration court

Man suspected of using ‘incendiary device’ arrested outside NYC immigration court

By Chris WadeThe Center Square A man is in custody after allegedly setting off an "incendiary device" outside a federal immigration court building in New York City Monday morning, authorities...
Gubernatorial candidate calls for leadership overhaul, prison reforms

Gubernatorial candidate calls for leadership overhaul, prison reforms

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Independent Illinois gubernatorial candidate Collin Corbett says persistent staffing shortages, aging equipment and what he describes...
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane confiscation case

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Alaska plane confiscation case

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case over whether an Alaskan pilot's plane can be seized after he transported alcohol into a town...