Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., last month, is now facing new charges and potentially the death penalty.
Lakanwal, 29, was charged with federal firearms charges on Tuesday (December 23), along with previous federal charges of first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and illegal possession of a firearm in relation to the shooting that killed U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured taff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office of the District of Columbia press release.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. “Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old when she was killed and her parents are now forced to endure the holiday season without their daughter. Andrew Wolfe, by the grace of God, survived but has a long road ahead in his recovery."
President Trump announced the death of Beckstrom during a phone call with U.S. troops on November 26.
“I heard that Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we’re talking about — highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023 outstanding in every way — she’s just passed away, she’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now,” he said via NBC News.
Beckstrom's death came hours after her father, Gary, said she wasn't expected to survive after being reported to be in critical condition.
“She has a mortal wound. It’s not going to be a recovery,” Gary told the New York Times.
“I’m holding her hand right now,” he added.
Sarah was reportedly shot in the head and chest during an incident that took place nearby the White House on November 26. Officials also identified Wolfe the second victim in critical condition, who was also deployed to Washington, D.C., and serving on patrol prior to the shooting. Wolfe remains hospitalized but was reported to be making progress last week.
Officials and a relative confirmed initially confirmed that Lakanwal, who was also shot during the incident, was identified as the shooter to NBC News. The incident is believed to be a targeted shooting. A relative said that Lakanwal arrived in the United States in September 2021, having previously served 10 years in the Afghan army alongside U.S. Special Forces troops, which included being stationed at a base in Kandahar.
“We were the ones that were targeted by the Taliban in Afghanistan,” the relative said, specifying that he and Lakanwal were supporting U.S. troops.
“I cannot believe it that he might do this,” he added.
Lakanwal came to the U.S. five months after former President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which resulted in the Taliban reclaiming power in the country. Lakanwal, who grew up in the Khost province, was reportedly living in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five children prior to the shooting and worked for Amazon and Amazon Flex when the relative had last spoken to him several months prior.
“I don’t know what happened,” the relative told NBC News. “I need your help to know why this happened.”