national Guard Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty
Washington DC - The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington DC earlier this month pleaded not guilty from his hospital bed on Tuesday, according to court documents. Nasrullah Lakanwal, 35, faces multiple charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon, in connection with the April 2nd ambush-style attack near the US Capitol.
Lakanwal allegedly traversed the city before approaching the troops and opening fire, screaming “Allahu Akbar!” as he shot at the guards, according to a police report filed in court. National Guard members Beckstrom and Wolfe were injured in the shooting, and another guard member was pursued and shot at before Lakanwal was detained while attempting to reload his weapon.
A prosecutor, Ariel Dean, described the shooting as a “shocking crime.” Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond ordered Lakanwal held without bond, citing the “sheer terror that resulted” from his actions. His case is due back in court on January 14th.
Authorities are still investigating a possible motive for the attack. Lakanwal entered the US in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden governance program resettling Afghans following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. He applied for asylum during the Biden administration, but his asylum claim was approved under the Trump administration, according to #AfghanEvac.
The shooting sparked immediate political reaction. Former President Donald Trump labeled the incident a “terrorist attack” and criticized the Biden administration’s resettlement program.He reiterated his calls to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations and expel millions of immigrants.
The rare shooting of national Guard members on US soil occurred amid ongoing debate regarding the use of the military to combat crime and the broader implications of resettlement programs for those who assisted US forces abroad.
