DC Guard shooting suspect stares down death penalty in first court appearance

The Afghan nationalist accused of carrying retired a deadly ambush-style shooting targeting National Guard members adjacent the White House pleaded not blameworthy Tuesday to each charges successful a 17-count national superseding indictment.

Just hours earlier, the Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed the indictment against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, who antecedently worked for the CIA successful Afghanistan. Lakanwal is accused of sidesplitting West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and severely wounding Guardsman Andrew Wolfe successful past November’s attack.

Prosecutors said the charges, which see first-degree murder, marque the lawsuit eligible for the decease penalty.

"Sarah Beckstrom was 20 years old, serving her state successful the nation's capital, erstwhile Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly drove crossed the state and executed her successful acold humor steps from the White House," U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said. "That is not conscionable a crime, it is simply a large discourtesy against the United States. We volition prosecute each punishment the instrumentality permits arsenic we question justness for Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe."

AFGHAN NATIONAL ACCUSED IN DEADLY DC NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING PLEADS NOT GUILTY, PROSECUTORS SEEK DEATH PENALTY

The .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that fishy Rahmanullah Lakanwal utilized successful the shooting of 2 National Guard members successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 26, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

During Tuesday’s arraignment, the fishy was seen wearing an orangish situation jumpsuit and skullcap and remained successful a wheelchair, arsenic helium appears to retrieve from injuries prosecutors accidental helium sustained during the incident.

DOJ prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta that they volition statesman the decease punishment reappraisal process shortly. 

The last determination connected whether to prosecute superior punishment volition beryllium made by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Lakanwal remains charged with first-degree execution portion armed, battle with intent to termination portion armed, and 2 counts of possession of a firearm during a transgression of violence.

Mehta acceptable the adjacent presumption proceeding for Sept. 16.

Photos of Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe are displayed supra a makeshift memorial with flowers and American flags extracurricular Farragut West Station adjacent the tract wherever 2 National Guard members were changeable successful Washington connected Nov. 29, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

ALLEGED NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTER WORKED WITH US GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN AFGHANISTAN, INCLUDING CIA: RATCLIFFE

According to tribunal documents, Lakanwal allegedly drove his Toyota Prius from his location successful Bellingham, Washington, to the District of Columbia portion successful possession of a stolen firearm. 

Prosecutors said helium opened occurrence connected West Virginia National Guard members, striking Beckstrom and Wolfe successful the head. Two adjacent National Guard members past subdued Lakanwal astatine the scene, officials said. 

A subordinate of the National Guard stands adjacent the White House aft a gunman opened occurrence successful Washington, D.C., connected May 23, 2026. (Brooke Curto/Fox News Digital)

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Investigators reportedly recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had been reported stolen successful Seattle successful 2023.

Officials said Beckstrom died from her injuries connected Thanksgiving, portion Wolfe continues to retrieve from his injuries.