US president Donald Trump said on Thursday that Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two National Guard soldiers shot near the White House a day earlier, had died of her injuries. The second soldier, he said, was “fighting for his life”. Trump called Beckstrom a “highly respected, young, magnificent person” and said he learned of her death just before starting a Thanksgiving video call with US troops. He told them the other soldier remained in “very bad shape”. The shooting took place on Wednesday afternoon a few blocks from the White House, near the intersection of 17th Street NW and I Street NW. The area includes the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which is used by White House staff. Following the gunfire, the White House, the Main Treasury building and the Freedman’s Bank Building were placed under lockdown, according to US media reports. In a statement, Trump said the attacker would face severe consequences. “The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price,” he said. “God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. I am with you.” Authorities have identified the accused as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who entered the US in 2021. He had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, according to reports.
