{"id":2516650,"date":"2025-12-02T16:20:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T21:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspect-accused-of-shooting-national-guard-troops-pleads-not-guilty\/"},"modified":"2025-12-02T16:20:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T21:20:55","slug":"suspect-accused-of-shooting-national-guard-troops-pleads-not-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/suspect-accused-of-shooting-national-guard-troops-pleads-not-guilty\/","title":{"rendered":"Suspect accused of shooting National Guard troops pleads not guilty"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsuspect-accused-of-shooting-national-guard-troops-pleads-not-guilty%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2516650&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An Afghan national, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has pleaded not guilty to charges including assault with intent to kill, murder, and firearm possession during a violent crime.The attack, which occurred near the Farragut West Metro station close to the White House, targeted two West Virginia National Guard soldiers. One victim, Sarah beckstrom, died from her injuries, while Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition. Lakanwal, who traveled from Washington state to carry out the attack, was hospitalized after being shot during the incident and appeared via livestream at his court hearing. The judge ordered him held without bond pending trial, scheduled for January 14, 2026. The Justice Department is considering seeking the death penalty. Reports indicate Lakanwal served with the CIA in Afghanistan and struggles with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/9-year-old-girl-pepper-sprayed-during-interaction-with-rochester-police\/\" title=\"9-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed During Interaction With Rochester Police\">mental health issues<\/a>, including PTSD. The FBI is investigating the shooting as a potential act of international terrorism. Lakanwal entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome and was later granted asylum. Following the attack, U.S. immigration agencies have tightened vetting processes for Afghan immigrants, and the Department of Homeland Security is expanding travel bans to include more countries to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-gives-national-security-grants-to-think-tank-backed-by-ccp-front-group\/\" title=\"Biden Admin Gives National Security Grants to Think Tank Backed by CCP Front Group\">enhance national security<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Suspect accused of shooting National Guard troops pleads not guilty<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2420584\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/afghanistan\/\">Afghan<\/a> national accused of shooting two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/national-guard\/\">National Guard<\/a> members in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-dc\/\">Washington, D.C.,<\/a> the day before Thanksgiving has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.<\/p>\n<p>Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was charged Tuesday 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. Still under medical care, the suspect attended a court hearing via livestream.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3904001\/records-ian-roberts-claimed-citizenship-maryland-voting-application\/\">Records reveal Ian Roberts claimed citizenship on Maryland voting application<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3903896\/fairfax-county-public-schools-backs-away-pronoun-bathroom-legal-fight\/\">Fairfax County Public Schools backs away from one of its pronoun-and-bathroom legal fights<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3903735\/fbi-offers-reward-suspect-california-mass-shooting\/\">FBI offers $50,000 reward for suspect in California mass shooting<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>At one point during the hearing, Lakanwal said he could not open his eyes and that he was in pain before the judge advised him to stop talking.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3902614\/dc-national-guard-shooting-what-to-know\/\">AN AFGHAN NATIONAL WAS CHARGED IN THE DC NATIONAL GUARD SHOOTING. HERE&rsquo;S WHERE THINGS STAND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>District of Columbia Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered that Lakanwal be held in custody without bond before a trial. The defendant is due to appear in court next on Jan. 14, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\">Justice Department<\/a> is considering seeking the death penalty after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3902614\/dc-national-guard-shooting-what-to-know\/\">shooter targeted<\/a> two West Virginia National Guard members outside the Farragut West Metro station near the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> on Wednesday. Sarah Beckstrom succumbed to her wounds the next day. Andrew Wolfe is recovering as he remains in critical condition.<\/p>\n<p>The attacker was also hospitalized after being shot in the incident.<\/p>\n<p>Lakanwal traveled from Washington state to the district to commit what authorities have called a &ldquo;targeted&rdquo; shooting against the National Guard. The judge appeared to agree with that assessment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind,&rdquo; Raymond said during Tuesday&rsquo;s court hearing.<\/p>\n<p>After the shooting, new information revealed the suspect served with the CIA in Afghanistan and suffered from mental health issues, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-includes-controversial-cluster-munitions-in-aid-package-to-ukraine-for-second-time\/\" title=\"US includes controversial cluster munitions in aid to Ukraine again.\">including post-traumatic stress disorder<\/a>. Investigators are trying to determine whether his poor mental state was a factor in the attack. The FBI is investigating the incident as a possible act of international terrorism.<\/p>\n<p>Lakanwal entered the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration&rsquo;s Operation Allies Welcome, which was set up for Afghan refugees following the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover of Afghanistan that year. He was later granted asylum under the second Trump administration.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3903744\/kristi-noem-advises-trump-impose-travel-ban\/\">AHEAD OF HOLIDAYS, NOEM ADVISES TRUMP TO IMPOSE FULL TRAVEL BAN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the wake of the attack, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services moved to restrict the processing of Afghan immigration requests to ensure proper vetting of foreign nationals. Furthermore, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> is rolling out a travel ban for numerous countries to preserve national security.<\/p>\n<p>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Sec_Noem\/status\/1995642101779124476\">first announced<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >expanded travel ban list<\/a> on Monday without specifying which countries would be affected. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/12\/02\/politics\/dhs-travel-ban-countries\">CNN reports<\/a> the new list will feature between 30 and 32 countries, a notable increase from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/News\/visas-news\/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats.html\">current list<\/a> of 19 countries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Afghan suspect in Nat&#8217;l Guard shooting pleads not guilty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2516651,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25332819383738.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[37479,4300,4230],"class_list":["post-2516650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-national-guard","tag-shooting","tag-suspect"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25332819383738.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2516650"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2516654,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2516650\/revisions\/2516654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2516651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2516650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2516650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2516650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}