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An Afghan man charged with killing a National Guard member near the White House entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to murder and firearms charges stemming from an attack that left one soldier dead and another critically wounded.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, appeared by video feed from a hospital bed where he is recovering from gunshot wounds sustained during the November 26 incident. He faces first-degree murder charges in the death of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, a National Guard member from West Virginia, along with assault with intent to kill and weapons offenses.
Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond pending his next court appearance on January 14. Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced plans to pursue capital punishment in the case.
According to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday, Lakanwal ambushed Beckstrom and fellow West Virginia National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe during a routine patrol outside a metro station in downtown Washington. Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition.
A third National Guard member present during the attack reported seeing Lakanwal open fire while shouting "Allahu Akbar," according to court documents. That soldier drew his weapon, shot and wounded Lakanwal, then physically restrained him as the suspect attempted to reload his firearm.
The assault occurred on the eve of Thanksgiving, sending shockwaves through the capital and prompting immediate questions about security screening procedures.
Lakanwal entered the United States through a resettlement program established after the American military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. US officials have confirmed he previously served with a CIA-backed "partner force" that fought against Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
A resident of Washington state, Lakanwal allegedly traveled across the country to carry out the shooting. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated over the weekend that investigators believe he may have been radicalized after arriving in the United States.
Records show Lakanwal received asylum approval in April 2025 during the current administration, though officials have attributed his initial entry into the country to what they characterize as insufficient vetting during the Biden administration's emergency evacuation operations from Afghanistan.
In the attack's aftermath, the Trump administration suspended visa processing for all Afghan nationals and halted decisions on pending asylum cases. The measures represent the most significant policy shift affecting Afghan refugees since the 2021 evacuation, which brought tens of thousands of Afghans to American soil under emergency humanitarian provisions.
The National Guard routinely assists with security operations in Washington, particularly around federal facilities and during heightened alert periods. Guard members typically carry weapons while on patrol duties in the capital.
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