• Two National Guard members were shot in a targeted attack near the White House.
• One member, identified as Sarah Beckstrom, has died; the other is in critical condition.
• The shooter is in custody, with law enforcement agencies responding swiftly to the incident.

Two members of the National Guard were shot near the White House on Wednesday in what has been described as a targeted attack. One of the soldiers, identified as Sarah Beckstrom from West Virginia, later succumbed to her injuries, while the other remains in critical condition, according to SCMP and Reuters.

The incident occurred near Farragut Square, prompting a lockdown of the White House as multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the location. Eyewitness accounts reported a chaotic scene as gunfire erupted, with pedestrians fleeing, according to Channel News Asia and Channel News Asia.

President Donald Trump was in Florida at the time of the shooting and referred to the gunman as an "animal" while confirming Beckstrom's death and saying the second soldier is "fighting for his life." Trump praised Beckstrom, calling her a "highly respected, young, magnificent person," according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The shooter was reportedly injured during the incident and is now in custody, with investigations still ongoing to determine the motive behind the attack, according to officials. Governor Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia had initially reported conflicting information on the soldiers' conditions following the incident, as captured by SCMP and Channel News Asia.