Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the Afghan national accused of carrying out a deadly ambush-style shooting targeting National Guard members in downtown Washington, D.C., pleaded not guilty Tuesday to all charges in a 17-count federal superseding indictment, according to The Associated Press.

The updated indictment was unsealed by the Department of Justice hours before Lakanwal’s court appearance; the new federal charges significantly expand the case against the 29-year-old defendant and make him eligible for the death penalty if prosecutors ultimately seek capital punishment.

1 Guard member killed, another critically wounded

What we know: Lakanwal is accused of fatally shooting West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounding U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe during an attack near the Farragut West Metro station, just blocks from the White House, on Nov. 26, 2025.

Prosecutors have described the shooting as an unprovoked, ambush-style attack. Beckstrom, 20, died from her injuries the following day, while Wolfe survived after suffering life-threatening wounds, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.

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