Rahmanullah Lakanwal Pleads Not Guilty in D.C. National Guard Shooting
Arraigned after the Nov. 26, 2025, shooting, Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges including first-degree murder.
Overview
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta presided as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges in Washington, D.C., officials confirmed.
Prosecutors allege Lakanwal ambushed two National Guard members near the White House on Nov. 26, 2025, fatally wounding Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounding Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.
Prosecutors told the court they are pursuing "death-eligible charges" and the Justice Department has said it will seek the death penalty, according to court filings and officials.
Court documents say Lakanwal drove from Washington state, obtained a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver reportedly stolen from a Seattle home, and bought ammunition in Bellingham days before the attack.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta set a status conference for May 6, 2026, and asked prosecutors to decide whether to add superseding, death-eligible charges by that date, court records show.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story largely through prosecutorial and security-focused editorial choices: factual tone but selective emphasis on law-enforcement accounts, vivid descriptions of Guard members' actions, and mention of a 'Biden-era chaotic' withdrawal tying the suspect's Afghan arrival to policy. Defense perspective and motive are marginalized, creating a crime-and-security narrative.
Sources (4)
FAQ
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is a 29-year-old Afghan national from Khost Province who entered the US in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome. He had worked with the CIA as part of a partner force in Afghanistan and struggled mentally, spending weeks isolated in his bedroom.
On November 26, 2025, Lakanwal ambushed two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House, killing Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounding Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, with headshots using a .357 revolver and their own firearm.
Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges including first-degree murder and firearms offenses. A status conference is set for May 6, 2026, where prosecutors must decide on superseding death-eligible charges.
No links to foreign handlers or extremist groups found in Lakanwal's communications; investigators are reviewing for ideological radicalization. He did not cooperate and was hospitalized after being shot and stabbed.
History
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