Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleads not guilty in US National Guard shooting

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete December 2, 2025 at 08:57 PM

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Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and assault in Washington, D.C., on December 2, 2025. He is accused of fatally shooting National Guard specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounding Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe. The shooting occurred on Wednesday, prompting a judge to order Lakanwal held without bond, citing "sheer terror" caused by the incident. Prosecutors allege Lakanwal traveled from Washington state to carry out the attack, yelling "Allahu akbar!" during the shooting. Lakanwal, who previously served with a CIA-trained unit in Afghanistan, was reportedly despondent after being evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021, leading to concerns about his mental state.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

National Guard ×280% Rahmanullah Lakanwal ×7100% United States ×4100% Washington, DC ×3100%

Keywords

national guard shooting 100% not guilty plea 80% first-degree murder 70% washington dc 70% afghan national 60% rahmanullah lakanwal 60% immigration restrictions 50% anti-crime effort 50% mental state 40%