WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — An Afghan man accused of opening fire on two National Guard members near the White House appeared in court Tuesday from his hospital bed and pleaded not guilty to several serious charges, including premeditated murder. The virtual hearing offered the first public look at Rahmanullah Lakanwal since police shot him multiple times during his arrest last week.
Lakanwal joined the hearing by video from a Washington, D.C., hospital. He lay in a bed with most of his body covered by a blanket. He squirmed and winced as he tried to respond to questions. Through a Pashto translator, he told the judge he could not open his eyes. He mumbled his name when prompted, appearing dazed and in pain.
DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond. She said the violent nature of the shooting and the “sheer terror” it caused left her no confidence that the community would be safe if he were released. She also pointed to his cross-country travel before the attack.
“It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind,” Raymond said.
Prosecutors say Lakanwal shot two National Guard members on November 26 in downtown Washington, D.C., only blocks from the White House. One of the soldiers, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries the next day. The second soldier, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.
Charging documents state that Lakanwal shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he opened fire. An eight-page affidavit describes how the soldiers were talking while on patrol near the intersection when shots rang out moments later. Surveillance video shows them collapsing to the ground as the gunfire continued.
Investigators say more footage captured Lakanwal near the Farragut West Metro station just before the attack. They say he stood briefly on the sidewalk, then ran toward the victims. After the shots, the video appears to show him chasing another person and bending down near the wounded soldiers.
Lakanwal’s attorney, Terrence Austin, argued that the Justice Department took too long to bring charges. He said his client had no criminal history and should be released until trial.
Prosecutors pushed back. They said the severity of the charges — including first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill — required Lakanwal’s detention. They also said he had no ties to the city and posed a danger to the community.
Lakanwal arrived in the United States in 2021 after working with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. He lived in Washington state with his family in recent years. DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro sat in the front row during the hearing. Afterward, she held a news conference outside the courthouse.
“We have no idea who he is; he has no connections to the community,” Pirro said. When asked whether she would seek the death penalty, she said the decision rests with the attorney general and would come later.
Austin argued in court that public statements like Pirro’s are tainting the jury pool. He said the defense cannot ensure a fair trial while officials hold news conferences discussing the ongoing case. Lakanwal is scheduled to return to court on January 14. He remains hospitalized under guard as he recovers from multiple gunshot wounds.
The case continues to draw national attention because of its location near the White House and the military service of the victims. The attack has sparked renewed concerns about security in the nation’s capital and the safety of National Guard members assigned to public patrols.
As the investigation moves forward, prosecutors say they will continue to review evidence, including the surveillance footage that appears to trace Lakanwal’s path before and after the shooting. The court will also consider whether pretrial publicity could affect the selection of an impartial jury once the case reaches trial.
