New court documents paint a chaotic and harrowing picture of the attack on National Guard troops in the nation’s capital last Wednesday, revealing that the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, actively hunted a third soldier and was attempting to reload his weapon when he was finally subdued.
Lakanwal, an Afghan national, made his first court appearance Tuesday where a judge ordered him held without bond. He faces charges of murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and assault with intent to kill.
According to a charging document filed by police, surveillance footage shows Lakanwal staking out the area near the Farragut West metro station for approximately one minute before launching the ambush.
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The affidavit states he shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire on the troops, who were deployed as part of a routine patrol under President Donald Trump’s recent directives to combat crime in the District.
The violence was precise and deadly. Police allege Lakanwal shot Guardsman Beckstrom in the back of the head before turning his weapon on Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, striking him in the head as well. Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries on Thanksgiving Day, while Wolfe remains under medical care, fighting for his life.
The tragedy nearly compounded, investigators say. After shooting the first two soldiers, Lakanwal allegedly chased a National Guard major, firing shots at the fleeing officer.
The rampage ended only when other service members intervened. A Guardsman identified in records as “Reynolds” engaged the shooter, striking him with return fire and causing him to fall. As Lakanwal hit the ground, he reportedly attempted to reload his weapon. An unnamed Guardsman then leaped onto the suspect, pinning him down. Reynolds, the unnamed soldier, and Secret Service officers worked in tandem to restrain Lakanwal until he was taken into custody.
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Details regarding Lakanwal’s background have added a layer of complexity to the investigation. The Daily Caller News Foundation reports that sources familiar with the matter say Lakanwal entered the United States via the humanitarian parole program under the Biden-Harris administration. Additionally, USA Today has reported that Lakanwal previously served in a CIA counterterrorism program during the war in Afghanistan.
As of Tuesday, court records did not list a defense attorney for Lakanwal.
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