Federal Charges Filed in National Guard Shooting Near White House
A man has been formally charged in a federal court for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident near the White House that resulted in the death of one National Guard member and serious injuries to another. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, is facing federal charges for transporting a firearm across state lines with the intent to commit a serious crime and for moving a stolen firearm across state borders.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated, “The transfer of this case from Superior Court to District Court ensures that we can undertake the serious, deliberate, and weighty analysis required to determine if the death penalty is appropriate here.” She also remarked on the tragic loss of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, whose parents now face the holiday season without their daughter. Andrew Wolfe, who survived, is on a challenging path to recovery.
Lakanwal stands accused under D.C. law with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and illegal firearm possession related to the incident. Despite being injured in the confrontation, he has entered a not guilty plea to these charges.
The attack occurred as Beckstrom and Wolfe, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, were deployed in Washington, D.C. as part of a law-enforcement surge initiated during President Donald Trump’s administration. The assault took place outside a subway station located three blocks from the White House, with Lakanwal reportedly traveling from Bellingham, Washington, to the nation’s capital with a stolen firearm.
Lakanwal, originally from Afghanistan, worked with U.S. forces during his time in Kandahar, including the CIA, as noted by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. He entered the U.S. in 2021 through the Operation Allies Welcome program, which facilitated the evacuation and resettlement of numerous Afghans following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Efforts to reach Lakanwal’s legal representative for comments have been unsuccessful.
