The 29-year-old Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard soldiers near the White House has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges. Rahmanullah Lakanwal appeared via video link from his hospital bed during a brief court hearing in Washington DC on Tuesday, where his attorney entered the plea.
The charges stem from the 26 November shooting in which Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24, was wounded. Both were serving with the West Virginia National Guard as part of Donald Trump's law-enforcement surge in the US capital, which has flooded the city with federal agents and troops since August.
According to a police report filed in court, another guard member witnessed Lakanwal firing while shouting "Allahu Akbar!" and saw Beckstrom and Wolfe fall. The report said Lakanwal then chased and shot at another soldier before being detained by troops as he attempted to reload his weapon. Prosecutor Ariel Dean described the incident as a "shocking crime", adding that Lakanwal appeared to have "traversed the city to some extent" before approaching the soldiers.
Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond, citing the "sheer terror" resulting from the attack. His next court appearance is scheduled for 14 January. The shooting has reignited debate over the use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement, a policy introduced by the Trump administration to combat crime in the capital.
Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a programme established by the Biden administration to resettle Afghans after the US withdrawal. According to #AfghanEvac, Lakanwal applied for asylum during the Biden administration, but his application was approved under the Trump administration. Donald Trump has called the shooting a "terrorist attack" and criticised his predecessor's policies, reiterating his desire to "permanently pause migration" from poorer nations and expel millions of immigrants.
