The man charged with shooting two National Guard members while they were patrolling Washington, D.C. in November appeared in court on Monday.
Suspect in Court
According to court records, the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, appeared in court on Monday, December 29.
A public defender was formally appointed to represent him, and a Pashto interpreter will be provided throughout the trial.
Records indicate that Lakanwal waived his right to a fast preliminary hearing. He is currently being held without bond.
His next hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on January 15, when a judge could decide whether he will remain in custody long term.
A Deadly Attack
On Wednesday, November 26, two National Guard members from West Virginia were shot in what authorities described as an ambush while patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., just blocks from the White House.
The shooting occurred around 2:15 p.m. near 17th and I Streets NW, close to the Farragut West Metro station. Officials said the lone gunman, later identified as Lakanwal, was armed with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver and opened fire “without provocation, ambush-style.”
One service member was shot and fell to the ground, after which the suspect leaned over and fired again. A second Guard member was struck multiple times.
Other National Guard members at the scene returned fire, wounding the suspect. He was transported to a local hospital under heavy guard. Authorities did not immediately release his condition.
The victims were identified as 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. Beckstrom died from her injuries on November 27.
A press release from the West Virginia National Guard stated that Wolfe entered service in 2019, while Beckstrom joined in 2023. Both had been serving on Task Force orders in the district since the federal takeover began in August.
The Suspect
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is described as a 29-year-old Afghan national who legally entered the United States in September 2021 under President Joe Biden’s program to resettle allies from Afghanistan. He lived in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children.
Authorities allege that Lakanwal drove from Washington state to Washington, D.C., with the intent to carry out the attack.
Former President Donald Trump previously blamed the Biden administration for Lakanwal’s presence in the U.S., claiming he was not properly vetted. However, a June report from the Department of Justice’s Inspector General found that sufficient vetting had taken place.
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