Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

Rahmanullah Lakanwal Pleads Not Guilty to 17 Shooting Charges as DOJ Seeks Death Penalty

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

Rahmanullah Lakanwal Pleads Not Guilty to 17 Shooting Charges as DOJ Seeks Death Penalty

Q: What led a former U.S. ally from Afghanistan to allegedly attack soldiers in Washington D.C.?

The short answer is that it is not publicly known what specifically led Rahmanullah Lakanwal to allegedly attack National Guard members in Washington, D.C. Court filings and Justice Department statements describe the shooting as an unprovoked, ambush-style attack, but they do not disclose a motive. Prosecutors say Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to the capital with a stolen revolver and opened fire on two Guard members near the White House, killing Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and badly wounding Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. A police report cited in coverage says he allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said he may have been radicalized after entering the United States. But that is an allegation, not a proven explanation. What is known is that Lakanwal had previously worked with the U.S. government and had ties to the CIA in Afghanistan as part of a partner force. He entered the United States in 2021 through the evacuation and resettlement program for Afghans after the U.S. withdrawal. He has pleaded not guilty. There is broader reporting about hardships faced by some former Afghan allies, including resettlement problems and uncertainty over immigration status, but no public evidence in this case directly links those issues to Lakanwal’s alleged actions. At this stage, any firm explanation for why he allegedly carried out the attack would be speculative.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 17

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all 17 counts in a federal superseding indictment over the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House.
Prosecutors say the charges include first-degree murder in the killing of 20-year-old West Virginia Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, making the case eligible for capital punishment; the DOJ said its death-penalty review will begin shortly.
Court papers allege Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., with a stolen .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and shot Beckstrom and Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in the head before two nearby Guard members subdued him.
Wolfe survived and is still recovering, while Lakanwal—who previously worked for the CIA in Afghanistan—appeared in a wheelchair at arraignment; U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta set the next hearing for Sept. 16.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will make the final decision on whether federal prosecutors seek the death penalty in a case authorities call a major offense against the United States.

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Fox News2h ago

Rahmanullah Lakanwal Pleads Not Guilty to National Guard Shooting Charges; DOJ Seeks Death Penalty

New York Post 2h ago

Prosecutors seek death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the DC National Guard shooter

NBC Washington9h ago

Suspect in shooting of National Guard troops pleads not guilty – NBC4 Washington

14 Sources

What led a former U.S. ally from Afghanistan to allegedly attack soldiers in Washington D.C.?

Will this attack permanently reshape how the United States treats its foreign military partners seeking refuge?

Death Penalty Sought for Afghan Ex-Commando in DC Shooting: Legal, Policy, and Community Repercussions

Overview

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a former Afghan special forces soldier who arrived in the U.S. as a refugee, is at the center of a high-profile legal case after a deadly shooting near the White House in November 2025. As of June 2026, he faces federal murder charges, with the Department of Justice actively seeking the death penalty due to the gravity of the case and federal jurisdiction. Lakanwal’s background—including his service with CIA-backed units, his resettlement struggles, and severe mental health issues from combat trauma—plays a crucial role in the ongoing court proceedings and national debates about refugee policy, veteran support, and public safety.

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