DC Guard shooting suspect stares down death penalty in first court appearance
Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who pleaded not guilty in killing National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom in Washington, D.C.
TL;DR
- Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, pleaded not guilty to a 17-count federal superseding indictment.
- Lakanwal is accused of killing National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounding Guardsman Andrew Wolfe in an ambush shooting near the White House.
- Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, citing the first-degree murder charge.
- Lakanwal previously worked for the CIA in Afghanistan.
- He allegedly drove from Washington state to D.C. with a stolen firearm and opened fire on the National Guard members.
- The suspect appeared in court in a wheelchair and will undergo a death penalty review process.