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Afghan National Pleads Not Guilty in DC National Guard Shooting, Held Without Bond
Washington D.C. – Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., last week, virtually appeared in court from his hospital bed on Tuesday to plead not guilty to charges including premeditated murder. One of the victims, Sarah Beckstrom, tragically died from her injuries, while the other, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.
During the virtual hearing in DC Superior Court, Lakanwal was seen squirming in his hospital bed, eyes closed, and expressing pain through a Pashto translator. Prosecutors allege that Lakanwal screamed “Allahu Akbar” as he opened fire in downtown Washington, D.C., according to charging documents released Tuesday.
Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal to be held without bond before trial, citing the “sheer terror” of the incident and the defendant’s apparent specific intent in traveling across the country. “No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” Judge Raymond stated, further adding, “It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind.”
Lakanwal was hospitalized after being shot multiple times last Wednesday. His appointed attorney, Terrence Austin, argued for his client’s release, noting the Justice Department’s delay in bringing charges and Lakanwal’s lack of prior criminal record. However, prosecutors countered that the gravity of the charges, including first-degree murder while armed, and Lakanwal’s lack of ties to the city, necessitate his pretrial detention to ensure public safety.
Lakanwal, who came to the U.S. in 2021 after working with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, has been living in Washington state with his family for the past few years.
DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro was present in the courtroom during the hearing and later held a news conference outside the courthouse.
“We have no idea who he is, he has no connections to the community,” Pirro stated. When questioned about the possibility of the death penalty, she responded, “That is a very weighty decision.
That is a decision that comes later in time. That is one that ultimately one that the attorney general will make.”
Lakanwal is scheduled for his next court appearance on January 14.
The Shooting Incident
According to an eight-page court filing, law enforcement detailed the events of the November 26 shooting. National Guard members Beckstrom and Wolfe were on patrol just after 2 p.m.
ET when gunfire erupted. Prosecutors allege Lakanwal screamed “Allahu Akbar” as he opened fire in Northwest downtown Washington, D.C.
Surveillance video near the Farragut West Metro station in D.C. reportedly captured Lakanwal’s movements before the shooting. The footage shows him standing on the sidewalk for about a minute before running towards an intersection and around a corner. The camera then captured the moment the two soldiers collapsed to the ground, and Lakanwal allegedly “chasing and shooting at” another witness before bending down near the two victims.