The man accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House last week appeared virtually before a D.C. Superior Court judge on Tuesday, entering not-guilty pleas from his hospital bed.
Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is charged with first-degree murder and multiple related offenses in the attack that killed Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.
Federal prosecutors filed the case in D.C. Superior Court, reflecting the District’s unusual system in which the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes both local and federal crimes. Authorities have not identified a motive. Lakanwal’s next court appearance is set for January 14.
Judge Renee Raymond ordered him held without bond, saying, “No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” and adding that “it is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind.”
Lakanwal, hospitalized from a gunshot wound sustained during his arrest, appeared on screen mostly covered by blankets. Speaking through a Pashto interpreter, he told the court he was in pain and claimed he could not open his eyes. A court-appointed attorney formally entered his not-guilty pleas.
Prosecutors say Lakanwal shouted “Allahu Akbar” while opening fire on the Guardsmen during their patrol on Nov. 26. According to the charging documents, both soldiers were struck in the head; Beckstrom died a day later, while Wolfe remains in serious condition but has shown signs of neurological improvement, according to West Virginia officials.
A prosecutor argued that the severity of the allegations — including first-degree murder while armed — and Lakanwal’s lack of ties to the District justified pretrial detention. Defense attorneys countered that he had no criminal history and that the government took too long to bring charges.
Relatives say Lakanwal arrived in the United States in 2021 after serving for a decade in the Afghan army alongside U.S. Special Forces. The CIA confirmed he was part of a partner force in Kandahar before his service ended during the U.S. withdrawal. He had been living with his wife and five children in Bellingham, Washington.
An affidavit submitted by law enforcement describes Beckstrom and Wolfe speaking while on duty shortly after 2 p.m. when shots rang out. According to the document, the two fell to the ground and saw the gunman as the attack unfolded. Officers subdued Lakanwal as he appeared to be reloading.
In response to the shooting, Trump announced that 500 additional Guard members would be sent to the capital, raising the deployment to roughly 2,700 personnel from multiple states under Joint Task Force–District of Columbia. They are expected to remain through at least late February.
Editorial credit: DCStockPhotography / Shutterstock.com