New federal charges filed against Afghan national in shooting of National Guardsmen Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe

Federal prosecutors have filed new charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of carrying out the ambush-style shooting in Washington, DC, that killed National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, marking a major escalation in the case as authorities weigh whether the death penalty could be pursued.

In a complaint filed in US District Court, Lakanwal, 29, who was living in Bellingham, Washington, was charged with transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony and transporting a stolen firearm in interstate commerce, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced.

“The transfer of this case from Superior Court to District Court ensures that we can undertake the serious, deliberate, and weighty analysis required to determine if the death penalty is appropriate here,” Pirro said, underscoring the gravity of the charges and the federal government’s intent to treat the attack as more than a routine local homicide case.

According to court documents, Lakanwal allegedly drove his Toyota Prius from Washington state to the District of Columbia while carrying a stolen firearm. Prosecutors say that on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at approximately 2:13 pm, Lakanwal opened fire “without provocation” near the Farragut West Metro Station at 17th and I Streets NW, striking Beckstrom and Wolfe in the head. Two National Guard Majors who were nearby reportedly subdued Lakanwal at the scene, preventing further casualties.

Investigators recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had been reported stolen in Seattle in 2023.

Beckstrom, only 20 years old, succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, prosecutors said. Wolfe, 24, survived the attack but remains seriously injured and faces what officials described as a long recovery.

Lakanwal also remains charged under DC law with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of firearm possession during a crime of violence.

The federal filing comes amid intensified political and national-security scrutiny surrounding Afghan nationals who entered the United States through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome resettlement effort. The program was launched during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan and brought tens of thousands of Afghans into the US, including individuals who had worked alongside American forces.

In recent weeks, that scrutiny has increased following DHS Inspector General reports detailing flaws in vetting systems and tracking processes, as well as DHS public statements highlighting examples of Afghan nationals accused of serious crimes after entering the country. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department.