Federal prosecutors announced they will pursue the death penalty against 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of ambushing two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House.
Investigators say Lakanwal allegedly drove cross-country before opening fire on patrol troops — wounding both. One of the guardsmen, Sarah Beckstrom, later died, and the other remains in critical condition. Prosecutors have filed multiple charges including assault with intent to kill, weapons offenses, and have warned that first-degree murder charges could be added if the surviving guard does not recover.
Authorities, including agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), are treating the incident as a terrorism-related act and have launched an expansive investigation. The Justice Department under Pam Bondi declared it will seek the maximum penalty, calling the attack “cowardly” and vowing to act swiftly.
The decision to seek capital punishment escalates a case that has already triggered nationwide alarm, sharp political fallout, and renewed scrutiny of immigration and resettlement protocols tied to individuals admitted under refugee and asylum programs.