The man accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members in Washington, DC, last week has now been charged with first-degree murder and several other serious gun and assault charges, Axios reported. The details were shared in court documents filed on Tuesday.
“This animal, who attacked two great American patriots, was allowed into our country thanks to Joe Biden’s dangerous policies,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Axios. “Now he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleads not guilty
According to WSJ, the suspect, 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, appeared in court from his hospital bed, where he is still recovering from gunshot wounds. He pleaded not guilty and attended the hearing with the assistance of an interpreter. Lakanwal spoke very little, only telling the judge that he was in pain and unable to open his eyes. The judge ordered him to remain in custody without bail, describing the attack as “sheer terror.” Prosecutors said he will likely face even more charges as the investigation continues.
According to investigators, Lakanwal drove nearly 3,000 miles from his home in Washington state to Washington, DC., just days before the attack. On November 26, he appeared in front of a group of National Guard members near the White House and suddenly opened fire with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver. The Guard members immediately shot back. Even in his wounded state, he tried to reload his gun, but another Guard member tackled and held him down.
Two National Guard members were injured in the attack. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who was only 20 years old, was shot in the head and later died from her injuries. Another member, 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe, is still in the hospital but is showing signs of improvement. Both were part of the nearly 2,200 National Guard troops deployed in the city after President Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC.
What happens next?
Attorney General Pam Bondi has already said she may seek the death penalty. The case is also being investigated as a possible act of terrorism. Meanwhile, the Trump administration seized on the incident to demand a tougher crackdown on migrants from the ‘third world’ countries.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021. He had been living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children. During the war, he worked with the US government as part of an elite counterterrorism unit linked to the CIA. He came to the US through a special program meant for Afghans who had helped American forces. Around 86,000 Afghans entered the country under this program, known as humanitarian parole.
