US EditionJustice Department plans to seek death penalty for man accused of shooting National Guard members
Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces death-eligible federal charges for ambushing two National Guard members near the White House, killing one and critically injuring another in November.
- On Wednesday, prosecutors announced the Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29-year-old Afghan national, who pleaded not guilty to nine federal charges in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
- Court records show Lakanwal drove from Washington state to D.C., prosecutors say he received a pistol reported stolen in Seattle and bought ammunition the same day, while investigators note he was banned by Uber and unemployed.
- A National Guard major returned fire, and U.S. Secret Service helped detain the suspect, after Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was shot and died, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was critically wounded.
- The next hearing is set for May 6, and U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ordered Lakanwal detained pending trial while about 2,600 National Guard members remain deployed in D.C.
- Officials say investigators are examining whether financial strain, mental-health issues and the recent death of an Afghan commander Lakanwal admired factored in, and the administration paused asylum decisions after the shooting.
79 Articles
79 Articles
The Department of Justice evaluates calling for the death penalty for two National Guard members being shot near the White House, an officer died.
The Department of Justice has announced that it will request the death penalty for the man accused of shooting two members of the National Guard and killing one of them near the White House in November.
Suspect in deadly shooting of guard member pleads not guilty amid death penalty discussion • Kentucky Lantern
Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom’s casket is displayed at a funeral home in her hometown of Webster Springs, West Virginia, on Dec. 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense)WASHINGTON — Department of Justice attorneys said during a Wednesday hearing in federal court that a final decision will be made by May as to what kind of death penalty charges could be pursued for the suspect accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard me…
Suspect in fatal WV Guard shooting pleads not guilty amid death penalty discussion
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, appeared before U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta for an arraignment hearing on Feb. 4, 2026, where he pleaded not guilty to all nine federal charges related to the fatal shooting of one West Virginia National Guard member and the wounding of another. U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, a native of Webster Springs, Webster County, West Virginia, was shot on Nov. 26, 2025 and died the next day. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. …
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