Washington, Dec 24 (NationPress) Federal authorities in the United States have charged a 29-year-old Afghan national in relation to the tragic shooting that resulted in the death of National Guardsman Sarah Beckstrom and left Guardsman Andrew Wolfe seriously injured in the capital city.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a resident of Bellingham, Washington, faces charges in a criminal complaint filed in the US District Court for allegedly transporting a firearm across state lines with the intention of committing a felony, as well as for transporting a stolen firearm, as stated by US Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

“Transferring this case to District Court allows us to conduct the thorough and serious assessment necessary to determine if the death penalty is warranted,” Pirro remarked. “Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old at the time of her death, leaving her parents to face the holiday season without their child. Thankfully, Andrew Wolfe has survived but faces a challenging recovery ahead.”

Lakanwal is also charged under the District of Columbia Code with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

According to court documents, Lakanwal allegedly traveled from Washington State to the District of Columbia in a Toyota Prius while in possession of a stolen firearm. Investigators report that on November 26, around 2:13 p.m., he fired shots without provocation near the intersection of 17th and I Streets, NW, close to the Farragut West Metro Station.

Beckstrom and Wolfe, both in full National Guard uniform and on duty, were shot in the head during the assault. Two nearby National Guard majors returned fire and subdued the assailant, according to authorities.

A .357 Smith & Wesson revolver found at the scene had been reported stolen in Seattle earlier in 2023, investigators confirmed.

Beckstrom succumbed to her injuries the day after the attack, on Thanksgiving, November 27, while Wolfe survived but was critically injured.

An affidavit supporting the federal complaint details the events leading up to the shooting. Investigators allege that Lakanwal acquired the revolver through an intermediary who believed the firearm was for personal protection. At the time of the transfer, the weapon was fully loaded with five rounds.

The firearm was traced back to a legitimate purchase in Washington State in 2007. The original owner passed away in 2023, after which the gun was reported stolen.

Court records reveal that after obtaining the revolver, Lakanwal purchased additional ammunition at a sporting goods store in Bellingham on November 15. On that same day, he searched for “Washington, D.C.” on Google Maps, followed by a search for “The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20500” the next day.

License plate reader data and cellphone location records indicate Lakanwal traveled east from Washington State through Idaho and Illinois before arriving in Washington just days prior to the shooting.

Surveillance footage obtained by investigators shows Lakanwal standing outside the Farragut West Metro station moments before the shooting, then running toward the intersection and firing at the two guardsmen.

Beckstrom and Wolfe were members of the West Virginia National Guard, having been deputized just the day before the shooting as Special Deputy US Marshals to protect federal properties and support law enforcement operations in the capital.

The investigation is being led by the FBI’s Washington Field Office in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police Department, with prosecution handled by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

The federal charges arise amid a broader deployment of the National Guard in Washington, where members have been tasked with assisting law enforcement in patrolling transit hubs, federal buildings, and downtown areas in response to concerns over violent crime.