The man accused of fatally shooting a D.C. National Guardsman and seriously wounding another was arraigned in federal court Wednesday.
Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who was shot during the Nov. 26 attack, entered the courtroom in a wheelchair and an orange jumpsuit.
He pleaded not guilty to one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of transportation of a firearm and ammunition in interstate commerce with the intent to commit a felony, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense.
Lakanwal, 29, spoke Pashto during the hearing and used an interpreter to communicate. His attorney addressed the court on his behalf.
Lakanwal is accused of gunning down Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe while they were on patrol near the White House as part of their deployment to the nation’s capital. Beckstrom died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the back of the head, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Wolfe was also shot in the head and rushed to the hospital in serious condition. He was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility in December.
The federal criminal complaint alleges that video showed Lakanwal standing outside a Metro station and then running toward an interstate as he opened fire with a revolver. A major in the National Guard who was in the area shot him, wounding him.
Another major detained him.
Officials said, according to the complaint, that Lakanwal drove from Washington state, where he lived, to D.C. and "purposely and with deliberate and premeditated malice" shot the guard members.
In December, he pleaded not guilty in D.C. Superior Court to first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in addition to murder.
