Accused National Guard shooter pleads not guilty to murder and assault charges at first court appearance from the hospital
An Afghan man appeared in court virtually from his hospital bed on Tuesday to plead not guilty to charges related to the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House last week. One of them, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries a day later. The other victim, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.
DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond before trial.
“No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” the judge said, in deciding to keep the defendant detained.
“It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind,” the judge added.
Lakanwal was hospitalized after being shot Wednesday. He appeared virtually from a hospital bed on Tuesday in Washington, DC, superior court. As the judge began, the man could be seen wiggling and moving in his bed, all but his head covered by a blanket.
The man mubbled his name when asked through squinted eyes. He said, through a translator, he cannot open his eyes.
“I have pain,” he said.
Lakanwal was charged with several crimes including premeditated murder and assault with intent to kill. He pleaded not guilty to all counts, a lawyer appointed to the case told DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond.
An interpreter accompanied Lakanwal in the virtual hearing translating between Pashto and English.
One of Lakanwal’s attorneys argued that his client should be released. He said the Justice Department took too long to charge Lakanwal and said he had no prior criminal record.
A prosecutor argued that the seriousness of the charges — including first degree murder while armed — call for him to be detained pretrial. The prosecutor also argued the man has no ties to the city, and no conditions could ensure the safety of the community.
Lankanwal spent the last few years living in Washington state with his family. He came to the US in 2021 after working with US forces in Afghanistan before the US military withdrew from the country.
In a charging document released Tuesday, prosecutors say Lakanwal screamed “Allahu Akbar” while he opened fire in Northwest downtown Washington, DC.
In an eight-page court filing, law enforcement described in detail the scene of the shooting, with soldiers Beckstrom and Wolfe talking and on patrol just after 2pm ET on November 26 when gunfire erupted.
The two victims fell to the ground and saw the defendant, the affidavit said.
Lankanwal is scheduled to appear in court next on January 14.
This story is developing and will be updated.
