Justice Department unseals new charges against National Guard shooting suspect

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An Afghan national is facing new federal charges in connection with the shooting of two National Guard members who were patrolling in the nation’s capital in November, according to a superseding indictment unsealed by the Justice Department on Tuesday.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to eight new charges, including murder of person assisting a federal officer, three counts of attempted murder of person assisting a federal officer, discharge of a firearm causing death and three counts of discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Six of the new charges are punishable by death if convicted, but DOJ attorneys have not indicated whether a final decision on whether to pursue the death penalty has been made.

Lakanwal, clad in an orange jumpsuit, was wheeled into the courtroom and appeared to fidget with his headset as he listened to the roughly 25-minute proceedings via an interpreter. At times, he also seemed to close his eyes or glance around the room.

He is accused of killing U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and wounding U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, members of the West Virginia National Guard, in an ambush while the pair were on duty near the Farragut Square Metro Station in the area of 17th Street and I Street Northwest in the afternoon of November 26.

Beckstrom, 20, died from injuries sustained in the shooting a day later on Thanksgiving. Wolfe’s mother said in a Facebook update in late January that her son was set to undergo skull reconstructive surgery in early March.

Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed to D.C. last year as part of a federal law enforcement surge ordered by President Trump to crack down on crime.

Prosecutors have alleged that Lakanwal traveled from Washington state to the nation’s capital ahead of the shooting, which officials described as “targeted.” He was shot and subdued by nearby National Guard members before being taken into custody.

He previously pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including first-degree murder and firearm charges.

At the end of Tuesday’s hearing, Lakanwal’s attorneys and prosecutors approached the bench for a private discussion with Judge Amit Mehta. The interaction was inaudible to the rest of the courtroom.

The next hearing has been set for September 16.

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