US EditionJustice Department plans to seek death penalty for man accused of shooting National Guard members
Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces nine federal charges including first-degree murder and assault; prosecutors consider death penalty after ambushing two National Guard members.
- In federal court Wednesday, Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded not guilty as the U.S. Justice Department said it will seek the death penalty; his next hearing is set for May 6.
- Prosecutors say Lakanwal drove from Washington state to D.C. in late November, acquired a stolen pistol, bought bullets the same day, and was unemployed for about two months before the attack.
- Scene investigators recovered a.357 Smith & Wesson snub-nosed revolver linked to the shootings, court filings show, with Spc. Sarah Beckstrom shot in the head and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe critically wounded and scheduled for skull reconstruction in March.
- Judge Amit Mehta directed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal remain detained pending trial as prosecutors pursue death-eligible charges and the president maintains 2,600 Guard members deployed through 2026.
- Prosecutors added two charges in January tied to the Guardsmen who subdued the suspect, and Lakanwal appeared virtually from an inpatient rehabilitation facility using a Pashto interpreter.
54 Articles
54 Articles
WSMV Nashville
WALB News 10Prosecutors haven’t ruled out seeking the death penalty in National Guard shooting
A prosecutor says the Justice Department is still weighing whether to seek the death penalty against a man charged with shooting two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them.
Ohio Capital Journal
Suspect in deadly shooting of guard member pleads not guilty amid death penalty discussion
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…
DC National Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty to 9 charges
The man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in November pleaded not guilty Wednesday to nine federal charges stemming from the incident. Attorneys for 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded on his behalf in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to NewsNation’s Mark Lucivero. Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder [...]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
