National Guard member dies after shooting near the White House

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP), November 28, 2025:

One of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot near the White House has died, President Donald Trump announced Thursday. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, succumbed to her injuries, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, remains in critical condition.

Speaking during a Thanksgiving call with U.S. troops, Trump said:

“She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down on us right now. Her parents are with her.”

The president called Beckstrom “an incredible person, outstanding in every single way.” According to the White House, Trump personally spoke with her parents afterward.

The suspect: an Afghan who worked with a CIA-backed unit

The accused shooter, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, previously served in a CIA-supported Afghan Army special unit before emigrating to the United States. The information was confirmed by two officials familiar with the case and the Afghan resettlement group #AfghanEvac.

Trump blames Biden-era vetting and calls attack ‘terrorism’

Trump characterized the incident as a “terrorist attack” and sharply criticized the Biden administration for allowing Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war to resettle in America. He argued that the asylum process was flawed and failed to properly vet individuals.

“We have no greater national security priority than ensuring full control over who enters and remains in our country,” Trump said. “For the most part, we don’t want them.”

He also suggested the suspect was mentally unstable after the war, adding:

“He went cuckoo. I mean, he went nuts. It happens too often with these people.”

Ambush attack and possible upgraded charges

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the suspect launched an “ambush-style” attack using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. Initially, Lakanwal was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Pirro noted that charges would be upgraded following Beckstrom’s death.

The shooting has intensified political tensions surrounding the deployment of National Guard troops in major U.S. cities and ongoing debates over immigration and national security.