The Brief Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused in the fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C., pleaded not guilty Tuesday to new federal charges that make the case death penalty-eligible. Lakanwal is accused of killing West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe in a Nov. 26, 2025 shooting near the Farragut West Metro station, blocks from the White House. The shooting triggered a federal investigation involving the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department and drew national attention due to its proximity to the White House and the victims' military status.



Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of carrying out a deadly ambush-style shooting targeting National Guard members in downtown Washington, D.C., pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all charges in a 17-count federal superseding indictment, according to The Associated Press.

The updated indictment was unsealed by the Department of Justice hours before Lakanwal's court appearance; the new federal charges significantly expand the case against the 29-year-old defendant and make him eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors ultimately seek capital punishment.

1 Guard member killed, another critically wounded

What we know:

Lakanwal is accused of fatally shooting West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe during an attack near the Farragut West Metro station, just blocks from the White House, on Nov. 26, 2025.

Prosecutors have described the shooting as an unprovoked, ambush-style attack. Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries the following day, while Wolfe survived after suffering life-threatening wounds, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.

According to court documents, investigators allege Lakanwal drove from Bellingham, Washington, to the nation's capital before carrying out the attack using a stolen .357-caliber revolver that had previously been reported stolen in Seattle.

Authorities say two National Guard majors at the scene helped subdue the suspect f

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