A man accused of shooting two National Guard members near the White House has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree murder. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, an Afghan national, made his initial court appearance via video from a hospital bed on Tuesday. His attorney entered the not guilty plea on his behalf.

The charges stem from a shooting incident on November 26 that resulted in the death of Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and left Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, critically injured. Both soldiers were part of the West Virginia National Guard and were deployed for a law enforcement operation in the capital.

Lakanwal faces charges of first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill, and firearms offenses. Prosecutors allege that surveillance footage captured Lakanwal outside a Metro station just before the attack. As the two National Guard members approached, he allegedly raised his hands in a firing position and opened fire, hitting both soldiers. Witnesses reported that he continued shooting as they fell and advanced toward a third Guardsman, who returned fire and subdued him.

During the incident, a supervising soldier reported hearing Lakanwal shout “Allahu Akbar!” as the gunfire erupted. The attack has raised questions about Lakanwal's background, particularly his status as one of over 190,000 Afghans admitted to the U.S. following the fall of Kabul. Many of these individuals were evacuees who had supported U.S. military efforts.

The case has drawn political attention, with former President Donald Trump using it to argue that Afghan evacuees were allowed into the country without adequate vetting. He described Lakanwal as having gone “cuckoo” and has called for a significant expansion of travel bans, with federal officials reportedly preparing a list of around 30 countries that could face new restrictions.

Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the shooting, which they have characterized as an ambush-style attack. The case remains under scrutiny as it unfolds in the legal system.