National Guard member shot near White House dies
November 28, 2025/
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.
Today Jul 20
86° 60°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Walmart targeted with lawsuit over customer service line voice recordings
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square (Legal Newsline) — Walmart has been tagged yet again in a class action lawsuit brought under Illinois' biometrics privacy law, this time...
Utility company pays $314 million to Eaton Fire victims
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square Southern California Edison, which has been sued for allegedly starting the devastating Eaton Fire, has offered more than $750 million as compensation for victims. Of...
Illinois quick hits: Collinsville man pleads guilty to sex abuse of children
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square DCFS honors scholarship recipients The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services honored 317 youth in care with a scholarship luncheon...
Judge plans to rule next week on Paramount, Warner Bros.
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A federal judge plans to decide by Wednesday whether to grant a temporary restraining order in a case that pits state attorneys general against Warner...
Aldermen say mayor fails to collect revenue he opposes
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square )The Center Square) – Chicago aldermen are suggesting that the city has a projected budget gap of $130 million because Mayor...
Texas leading in Iran conflict, drone boat company rescues pilots, attacks Iran
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Austin-based drone boat company helping Texas lead the U.S. war against Iran is now building what is expected to be the largest shipyard in...
Illegal border crossings remain historically low in June, drug seizures up
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Children still being released into the country Illegal border crossings remained historically low in June, continuing a trend under the Trump administration. Last month, 31,626...
Pritzker disputes Trump speech claims
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says President Donald Trump tried to claim victimhood during his speech to the nation...
Arizona congressional candidates debate healthcare, ICE
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Voters will head to the polls Tuesday in Arizona’s 4th and 5th congressional district races with healthcare affordability and immigration enforcement on their minds. District...
Mullin reveals 250k non-citizens registered to vote in just four states
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Following allegations of foreign adversaries meddling in U.S. elections during a primetime address Thursday by President Donald Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin laid out...
Walz again questions deportation of convicted sex offender
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is once again defending a criminal illegal immigrant who was deported by the Trump administration. In a press conference earlier this...
Trump calls out Michigan elections in primetime address
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square President Donald Trump made the accusation of election fraud in Michigan during a primetime address Thursday night. Trump referenced potential election crimes during the 2020...
OBGYN group leader says she posed as teen, ordered abortion drug via mail
By Tate RosentreterThe Center Square An organization of pro-life OBGYNs is calling on Congress to end the mail-order abortion system after the group’s CEO said she posed as a 13-year-old...
Secretary of State dismisses calls for clarity on migrant’s license status
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Secretary of State is pushing back against claims from conservatives that his department has issued...
Illinois news in brief: Prosecutors indict felon on pretrial release for fentanyl trafficking; Rockford men charged after child abuse investigation; Cairo bridge to reopen
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Prosecutors indict felon on pretrial release for fentanyl trafficking A federal grand jury has indicted a Chicago man for allegedly trafficking...