The Department of Justice has added new charges, including six carrying the death penalty, against an Afghan national accused of the fatal shooting of a National Guard member in Washington, D.C.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced additional charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members on patrol in Washington, D.C., in November. The charges now include six counts carrying the death penalty, although the DOJ has not yet decided whether to pursue that option. 👤 WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, were the victims, with Beckstrom succumbing to her injuries. 📍 WHEN & WHERE: The attack occurred in November in Washington, D.C., during a National Guard patrol initiated under President Donald J. Trump’s successful law enforcement surge in the capital. 🎯 IMPACT: The charges escalate the legal stakes for Lakanwal. The decision on whether to pursue the death penalty remains pending. 📺 DETAIL: The original charges were filed in November, with additional counts brought in February and now in October. The two National Guard members were part of a broader federal effort aimed at reducing crime and illegal immigration in Washington, D.C. Lakanwal entered the United States under former President Joe Biden’s special immigrant visa program for Afghans. |
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