A 29-year-old man accused of ambushing two U.S. National Guard members near the White House has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and multiple weapons charges during a brief court appearance by video from his hospital bed, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds. A judge ordered him held without bond.
Prosecutors identified the defendant as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the United States under a program for allies from Afghanistan. Authorities allege Lakanwal traveled from Washington state to the capital and opened fire at a group of Guard members on Nov. 26, killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Witnesses and reports say the suspect was shot and wounded by other troops at the scene and later hospitalized.
During the hearing Lakanwal appeared by video in a hospital gown and was said to be in pain and unable to open his eyes; his defense lawyer entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf. The judge rejected requests for release, citing the severity of the charges and what prosecutors characterized as evidence of intent to terrorize. Lakanwal remains in custody pending further proceedings; a follow-up hearing has been scheduled for mid-January.
Court filings and police briefings describe the attack as an ambush-style shooting carried out as dozens of Guard members were deployed in Washington at the time. Officials say the suspect attempted to reload after opening fire and that witnesses heard him shout phrases during the assault — details that have intensified public and political scrutiny of how the attacker obtained a weapon and about vetting processes for people admitted to the U.S. from overseas.
Local and federal authorities have opened investigative and prosecutorial channels, with the U.S. Department of Justice taking the lead on the criminal case. West Virginia officials and the families of the Guard members have expressed grief while demanding answers; national lawmakers and commentators have seized on the case in debates over immigration, vetting and the security of deployed troops. Investigators say the probe remains active and that more evidence and witness statements are still being collected.
A makeshift memorial has grown near the shooting site and officials urged anyone with information to come forward. Legal experts say the combination of serious federal charges, the defendant’s alleged actions and the security concerns raised by the attack make it likely the case will be prosecuted aggressively and remain in pretrial detention for the foreseeable future.
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