Suspect in National Guard shooting near White House pleads not guilty

A suspect who is accused of killing a National Guard member and severely injuring another in a shooting in November has pleaded not guilty.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was in a wheelchair for his first appearance in federal court on Wednesday, entering his plea for nine federal charges, according to US media reports.

During the hearing, prosecutors suggested they may pursue the death penalty against Lakanwal with additional charges.

Prosecutors accuse Lakanwal of carrying out an "ambush", killing Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injuring Andrew Wolfe, 24, after he drove to Washington, DC, from Washington state.

Lakanwal is not currently facing the death penalty, but prosecutors said during the brief arraignment they may pursue a superseding indictment that would include "death-eligible" charges, according to US media reports. US Attorney General Pam Bondi has said she would seek the death penalty.

Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to separate charges from the Superior Court of the District of Columbia during a virtual court appearance from a hospital bed in December shortly after the shooting.

According to court documents, prosecutors say the suspect shot Beckstrom and Wolfe while they were on patrol with other National Guard troops near an underground train station just a few blocks from the White House.

A supervisor heard gunshots and saw Wolfe and Beckstrom collapse. He "immediately pulled his service weapon and engaged the defendant", who fell to the ground, according to court documents.

The supervisor said the shooter stopped firing and was trying to reload when another Guard member jumped on him, and Secret Service officers helped subdue the suspect, prosecutors said.

Lakanwal came to the US in 2021 as part of a programme for Afghans who had worked with American troops in Afghanistan, according to officials.

The Trump administration paused all asylum decisions following the shooting and ordered a review of Afghan refugees in the US.

An Afghan national, Lakanwal entered the US as part of the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome programme after the chaotic US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. As the Taliban took back control of the country, there were fears of retribution against individuals, such as Lakanwal, who had co-operated with the US.

Lakanwal may have struggled significantly with his mental health, according to emails previously obtained by the BBC's US partner CBS News.

He spent weeks at a time alone in a dark room and suffered "manic episodes" - according to comments in 2024 from a case worker who helped the suspect's family with their relocation after they fled Afghanistan.