Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 30-year-old Afghan citizen, appeared in a U.S. federal court on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to all charges related to a deadly armed attack on National Guard members near the White House.
Kabul 24: Prosecutors allege that Lakanwal carried out a targeted shooting in Washington, D.C., in November 2025, killing Sara Backstrom of the West Virginia National Guard and seriously wounding Andrew Wolf.
He now faces serious federal charges, including first-degree murder and firearms offenses. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that a review process for seeking capital punishment will begin shortly, with the final decision to be made by Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.
Court documents reveal that Lakanwal previously worked as a contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Afghanistan.
According to prosecutors, he traveled to the U.S. capital with a stolen handgun that was taken in a 2023 theft in Seattle, Washington. Investigators recovered the pistol at the scene and confirmed it matched the stolen weapon.
Authorities say Lakanwal opened fire on National Guard forces, striking two service members in the head before he was subdued by other officers.
The incident has raised significant national security concerns given its proximity to the White House and the suspect’s background.Lakanwal attended the court hearing wearing a bright orange prison jumpsuit and seated in a wheelchair, reportedly due to injuries he sustained during the confrontation.
The next court hearing has been scheduled for September 16 to allow both sides additional time to prepare their cases.
This high-profile case involves multiple complexities, including the defendant’s prior cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies, the use of a stolen firearm trafficked across state lines, and a direct attack on uniformed military personnel in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Federal investigators are examining every aspect of the case, including possible motives.
Lakanwal’s defense team is expected to challenge the prosecution’s narrative, potentially focusing on his physical and mental condition or other mitigating factors.
The outcome of this trial could have broader implications for how the U.S. handles former Afghan allies and security risks in sensitive areas.
The case continues to draw intense media attention and is being closely monitored by both the Afghan-American community and national security experts.
