Accused National Guard Shooter Pleads Not Guilty To Charges

[Conservative Angle]

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This isn’t too surprising.

The Afghan national who brutally shot two National Guard members just blocks away from the White House last week has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

The accused shooter Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to premeditated murder.

CNN broke the story of Rahmanullah Lakanwal’s not guilty plea:

An Afghan man appeared in court virtually from his hospital bed on Tuesday to plead not guilty to charges related to the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House last week. One of them, Sarah Beckstrom, died from her injuries a day later. The other victim, Andrew Wolfe, remains in critical condition.

DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond before trial.

“No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” the judge said, in deciding to keep the defendant detained.

“It is fairly clear that he came across the country, 3,000 miles, armed, with a specific purpose in mind,” the judge added.

Lakanwal was hospitalized after being shot Wednesday. He appeared virtually from a hospital bed on Tuesday in Washington, DC, superior court. As the judge began, the man could be seen wiggling and moving in his bed, all but his head covered by a blanket.

The man mubbled his name when asked through squinted eyes. He said, through a translator, he cannot open his eyes.

“I have pain,” he said.

Lakanwal was charged with several crimes including premeditated murder and assault with intent to kill. He pleaded not guilty to all counts, a lawyer appointed to the case told DC Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond.

An interpreter accompanied Lakanwal in the virtual hearing translating between Pashto and English.

One of Lakanwal’s attorneys argued that his client should be released. He said the Justice Department took too long to charge Lakanwal and said he had no prior criminal record.

A prosecutor argued that the seriousness of the charges — including first degree murder while armed — call for him to be detained pretrial. The prosecutor also argued the man has no ties to the city, and no conditions could ensure the safety of the community.

Check out NBC News reporting on the latest update:

AFGHAN NATIONAL CHARGED WITH MURDER OF U.S. GUARD MEMBER IN D.C. – PLEADS NOT GUILTY

An Afghan national brought to the U.S. after the 2021 withdrawal has been charged with the cold-blooded execution of two National Guard members near the White House, and he just pleaded not… pic.twitter.com/6hrH9EYaqx

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 2, 2025

WJLA reported AG Pam Bondi will seek the death penalty for the shooter:

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will urge prosecutors to seek the death penalty against 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal.

Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was identified by federal officials as the gunman who opened fire on West Virginia National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, on Nov. 26, 2025.

Beckstrom died a day after the shooting, and Wolfe was left fighting for his life.

“I will tell you right now, I will tell you early, we will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country,” Bondi said during a segment on Fox News Thursday.

Lakanwal was initially charged with three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

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