U.S. Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal
U.S. federal prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they will seek the death penalty for Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national accused of killing a member of the U.S. National Guard and seriously wounding another service member.
Lakanwal appeared in federal court in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, where he faced a series of new charges. If proven in court, these charges could make him eligible for a death sentence. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to U.S. media reports, the defendant appeared in court wearing an orange prison uniform and seated in a wheelchair. Reports noted that during the hearing, he blinked rapidly several times, mumbled to himself, and occasionally looked around in a visibly agitated manner.
Prosecutors allege that on November 26, 2025, Lakanwal killed Sarah Bextrom, a 20-year-old soldier with the West Virginia Army National Guard, and seriously injured Andrew Wolf, a member of the U.S. Air Force and the West Virginia National Guard.
Under the new indictment, Lakanwal faces 17 charges, including armed and premeditated murder, attempted murder of three additional individuals, assault with intent to kill, interstate transportation of a firearm for the commission of a crime, and use of a firearm during a violent criminal act.
Lakanwal, who has been described as a former Afghan commando, could face the death penalty if convicted of murder.
U.S. authorities say the attack was stopped after two other National Guard members intervened. Using a firearm and a knife, they prevented the assailant from continuing the attack and subdued him.
Prosecutors further allege that Lakanwal traveled from Washington State, where he resided, to Washington, D.C., carrying a stolen .357 Magnum revolver to carry out the attack.
He had previously been charged with murder, assault, and firearms-related offenses; however, those earlier charges did not carry the possibility of capital punishment. Prosecutors had previously indicated that they were seeking additional charges that would allow them to pursue the death penalty.
Andrew Wolf, who was seriously wounded in the incident, recovered after receiving medical treatment and later attended President Donald Trump’s annual address to Congress.
On the day of the attack, Sarah Bextrom had voluntarily taken over a shift for a colleague with children so that the colleague could spend the holiday with family. She died from her injuries the day after the attack, coinciding with Thanksgiving Day.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
