National Guard member shot near White House dies
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.
Latest News Stories
Vance praises troops as backbone of Trump’s peace campaign
Foreign leaders wait for ruling in U.S. case on Trump’s tariff power
WATCH: CA Dems announce congressional redistricting effort
Trump orders drug stockpile, increased manufacturing
WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois
WATCH: Illinois GOP State Fair rally takes aim at Pritzker, ‘woke agenda’
Small business group: Pritzker-signed bills are wrong move
Grand Canyon fire now 54% contained; 144,432 acres burned
Report: Post-election audits in swing states insufficient
U.S. producer prices surge in July as tariffs increase costs
Colorado sued over social media warnings for minors
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Thursday Aug. 14th, 2025