DC National Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty to 9 charges

The man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., in November pleaded not guilty Wednesday to nine federal charges stemming from the incident. 

Attorneys for 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded on his behalf in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to NewsNation’s Mark Lucivero. Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, illegal possession of a firearm and six related charges.

The 29-year-old Lakanwal, who was hospitalized after the incident after he was shot by another Guard member, was present in court Wednesday in a wheelchair and relied on a translator throughout the hearing. 

Twice, Lakanwal’s lawyers and translator had to briefly pause proceedings to explain to him what was happening. 

Lakanwal, an Afghan national, is accused of shooting U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, both members of the West Virginia National Guard, near Farragut Square Metro Station in the area of 17th and I streets NW. 

Beckstrom died from her injuries the day after the shooting. Wolfe’s mother, Melody Wolfe, wrote on Facebook over the weekend that her son remains in an in-patient rehab facility and is ready to begin an 8 to 12 week residential rehab program.

“Physically, Andy has healed really well and he will be having his cranioplasty (skull reconstruction) in early March,” she added. “It’s a very routine surgery and will allow for even more independence and recovery.”

When U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta asked federal prosecutors Wednesday whether they would pursue additional charges that would allow them to seek the death penalty in the case, they briefly deliberated before telling the judge they are pursuing “death-eligible charges.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in November, before Beckstrom died, that the Justice Department will seek the death penalty against Lakanwal.

“If something happens, 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,” Bondi said on Fox News.

Mehta set the next hearing date in the case for May 6.