National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom dies days after being shot near White House

Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two National Guard members shot near White House in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, is dead.

President Donald Trump announced Ms Becstrom’s death on Thursday.

“I heard that Sarah Beckstrom, of West Virginia, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way, she’s just passed away,” Mr Trump said in a video on Thanksgiving Day. “She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It’s just happened. She was savagely attacked. She’s dead now.”

He said the other National Guard member wounded in the Wednesday attack, Andrew Wolfe, 24, remained in critical condition.

“He’s in very bad shape. He’s fighting for his life, and hopefully we’ll get better news with respect to him,” Mr Trump said.

The shooter was identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, “a criminal alien from Afghanistan”.

Mr Trump had on Thursday declared the shooting of two National Guardsmen as an act of terrorism, ordering the immediate stop of the immigration process of Afghan citizens.