Washington: A US court on Tuesday formally accused Afghan Rahmanullah Lakanwal of shooting two National Guard members just blocks from the White House last week. Lakanwal, 29, was charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill, one count of murder, and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Lakanwal attended the hearing at Washington D.C. Superior Court remotely from a hospital bed. He was seen lying down with eyes closed and appeared to be in pain. Lakanwal's defense attorney stated that his client pleads not guilty to all charges. During the hearing, Lakanwal attempted to express his discomfort, but was cut off by D.C. Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond. His defense attorney intervened to prevent him from continuing.
Raymond ruled that Lakanwal be held in custody without bond pending further court actions. The brazen daytime shooting unfolded Wednesday near Farragut West Station, less than a mile from the White House. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was wounded and continues to fight for his life, while U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, was killed.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Department of Justice's intention to seek the death penalty. Lakanwal, who authorities said was shot during the confrontation, is currently hospitalized. The incident has shocked Washington and raised questions about the vetting process for those entering the country.
Lakanwal entered the United States legally in September 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the Biden administration's Afghan evacuation and resettlement program. His asylum application was approved in April 2025 under the Trump administration. Lakanwal had served in Afghanistan with NDS-03, an elite unit operated by the CIA with direct US intelligence and military support, as reported by Afghan Evac, a non-profit assisting Afghans on Special Immigrant Visas (SIV).
The Afghan members of these units were highly vetted and trained by the CIA, tasked with executing challenging counterterrorism missions against the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and others. Advocates working with Afghan evacuees noted that some former members of these units carried deep trauma from years of conflict, though it remains unclear if this history influenced Lakanwal's behavior in the U.S.