DC ambush suspect charged from hospital bed as new images released - Ambush suspect in DC charged from hospital bed as new images are released

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been formally charged in D.C. Superior Court for shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House last week. The charges against him include murder, assault with intent to kill while armed, and multiple firearms violations.

Lakanwal appeared via remote connection from a hospital in Washington, D.C., where he is recovering from gunshot injuries sustained when another Guard member shot him during the incident. Communicating through a Pashtu interpreter, he pleaded not guilty. A magistrate judge ordered him held without bond, describing the governments case as exceedingly strong. His next court appearance is scheduled for mid-January.

The newly filed complaint states that the attack took place the day before Thanksgiving as Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were patrolling near the Farragut West Metro station. A supervisor witnessed both Guardsmen fall as gunfire erupted, observing Lakanwal firing a handgun and shouting Allahu Akbar. Autopsy reports indicate Beckstrom was shot in the back of the head, while Wolfe was also shot in the head and remains in critical condition, though showing slight responsiveness. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving with her parents at her side.

Investigators said Lakanwal attempted to reload a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver before being shot by another National Guard member. A witness tackled him, and Secret Service officers assisted in subduing him. Security footage cited in the complaint shows Lakanwal approaching in a firing stance, and a recently released Justice Department image appears to show him crouched near the wounded Guardsmen after the shooting.

Lakanwals background has become central to both the investigation and its political implications. He previously served with U.S. forces in Afghanistan as part of a CIA-backed unit in Kandahar. Fleeing Taliban threats, he and his family were brought to the U.S. in 2021, with his asylum approved earlier this year. Reports indicate he served on a CIA operations team for approximately eight years and suffered from PTSD. Emails suggest his mental health deteriorated in recent years. The FBI is investigating whether an international terrorist group may have influenced the attack, though no terrorism charges have been filed.

The incident has influenced U.S. immigration policy, with the Trump administration citing it to justify halting visa and immigration processing for Afghan nationals and reviewing green card applications from 19 countries. Recent policy updates have paused all immigration applications from ten countries already under travel restrictions. USCIS states the changes aim to ensure maximum security following the D.C. attack.

Author: Harper Simmons