Afghan National Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal National Guard Shooting Near White House
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in the fatal shooting of Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and injury of Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe near the White House.
Overview
- Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, pleaded not guilty to murder, assault, and weapons charges after shooting two National Guard members near the White House in Washington D.C.
- Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, tragically died from her injuries on November 27, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains hospitalized in critical condition following the ambush-style attack.
- Lakanwal appeared remotely from a hospital bed, pleading not guilty, and was ordered held without bond by the judge, citing the "sheer terror" of his actions.
- Lakanwal, who entered the U.S. in 2021 via Operation Allies Welcome, reportedly shouted "Allahu akbar!" before the shooting, raising concerns about his mental state.
- Authorities are investigating the motive for the ambush-style attack, while Lakanwal, who previously worked with a CIA-backed unit, has no prior criminal record.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame this story by emphasizing the suspect's severe mental health decline and past trauma from serving in "violent, CIA-backed Zero Units" in Afghanistan. They heavily rely on an advocate's emails and critics' views to suggest PTSD and manic depressive disorder as primary factors, while presenting alternative theories like "radicalization" as less central.
"Lakanwal's work in Afghanistan had left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and that he showed signs of manic depressive disorder."
USA TODAY"The suspect in last week's shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has been charged with murder and assault with intent to kill while armed."
CBS News"The rare shooting of National Guard members on American soil came amid court fights and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem."
Military Times"The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has been charged with murder in connection with the attack that left one National Guard member dead and another fighting for his life."
USA TODAY"The rare shooting of National Guard members on American soil came amid court fights and a broader public policy debate about the Trump administration’s use of the military to combat what officials cast as an out-of-control crime problem."
Associated Press"Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national accused of shooting two West Virginia National Guard members, killing one, in Washington, D.C., has been formally charged with murder."
ABC News"Lakanwal's increasingly erratic behavior never suggested any kind of threat or danger."
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FAQ
The victims were Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, who died from her injuries, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was critically injured and remains hospitalized.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is facing charges of murder, assault, and weapons violations related to the shooting.
Lakanwal is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome and previously worked with a CIA-backed unit. He has no prior criminal record.
Authorities are still investigating the motive for the ambush-style attack, but Lakanwal reportedly shouted 'Allahu akbar!' before the shooting, raising concerns about his mental state.
Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 as part of Operation Allies Welcome, a program for Afghan evacuees.
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