One of two National Guard members shot near White House dies

One of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot by an Afghan national near the White House has died, President Donald Trump announced.

Trump described Sarah Beckstrom as an "incredible person, outstanding in every way."

Specialist Sarah Beckstrom enlisted in June, 2023 and was assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard. The 20-year-old had volunteered to work in the capital over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Said Trump: "I must unfortunately tell you that just seconds before I went on, right now I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we're talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person.

"Started service in June of 2023, outstanding in every way. She's just passed away. She's no longer with us."

The other injured guardsman is 24-year-old Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, who Trump said was fighting for his life.

The suspect charged with the shooting is 29-year-old Afghan Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was reportedly part of the CIA-backed Zero Units that provided security during the US military's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2020.

Lakanwal, who has a wife and five children, launched an ambush-style attack using a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.

He entered the US in 2021 through the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome programme that resettled thousands of Afghans who helped the Americans. His asylum was approved under Trump's regime.

It's a programme that Trump has criticised, echoed by US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro.

"What we know about him is that he drove his vehicle across country from the state of Washington with the intended target of coming to our nation's capital," said Pirro. "This is what happens in this country when people are allowed in, who are not properly vetted."

Beckstrom's body was taken from a Washington DC hospital to the DC Examiner's Office.

Trump later threatened to take measures to reverse immigration decisions made under Joe Biden, and to "remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States."