Death Penalty Sought for Man Who Shot National Guard Members Near White House

The U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing the death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who is accused of fatally shooting National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom and injuring Andrew Wolfe near the White House in November. During his initial court appearance, Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to nine charges, including first-degree murder. Lakanwal, a former CIA contractor who arrived in the U.S. in 2021, allegedly obtained a stolen revolver to protect himself while working for Uber and Lyft. Investigators revealed that he had researched the White House prior to the shooting, which occurred just two blocks away. His next court hearing is scheduled for early May.

Key Details: • Next court hearing for Lakanwal is set for early May. • Shooting incident occurred two blocks from the White House. • Lakanwal had previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. • He had been expelled from Uber two months before the incident.