THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, shows the defendant, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, top right, bending down next to Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe after shooting them, according to police. (Department of Justice via AP) By Associated Press PUBLISHED: July 9, 2026 at 5:37 PM CDT | UPDATED: July 9, 2026 at 5:40 PM CDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN WASHINGTON (AP) — A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them, has been taken to a hospital for treatment of a potentially life-threatening medical condition after he refused to eat food while jailed in pretrial custody, prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday. Justice Department prosecutors said they learned Thursday morning that Rahmanullah Lakanwal was rushed to a hospital overnight “for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life.” The U.S. Marshals Service notified prosecutors last month of concerns that Lakanwal was at risk of long-term health consequences, including death, due to his “refusal to consume adequate nutrition for an extended period,” the filing says. The…

Suspect in deadly shooting of National Guard troops pleads not guilty ... This courtroom sketch depicts Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, seated left, with defense attorney Michelle Peterson, seated foreground, before U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, Feb. 4, 2025 at Federal Court in Washington, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice speaks at the podium. (Dana Verkouteren via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — A man accused of shootingtwo National Guard troopsnear the White House, killing one of them, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges in a new indictment that make him eligible for a possible death sentence if he is convicted. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was arraigned on 17 counts, including first-degree murder, in thenew indictmenthanded up by a federal grand jury in Washington. Lakanwal originally pleaded not guilty in January tonine chargesin the November 2025 shooting that killed Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Before the Justice Department announces whether it will seek the death penalty against Lakanwal, his defense attorneys can meet with prosecutors and present any evidence that they believe weighs against a death sentence. …

Lawyers For National Guard Shooting Suspect Claim Lack of Evidence Homicide Lawyers For National Guard Shooting Suspect Claim Lack of Evidence December 17, 2025 — Jeff Levine Lawyers for Rahmanullah Lakanwal , 29, the accused killer of a National Guard soldier and grievous wounding of another trooper, filed a motion on Dec. 16 to compel prosecutors to provide evidence to back up their claims that the crime was a “targeted attack” and an “ambush.” “Despite these characterizations, the government has proffered no motive evidence for the charged offenses. Instead, all the known evidence of Mr. Lakanwal’s allegiances show his solidarity with U.S. military personnel,” says the motion filed by his defense team Edward Ungvarsky and Jessica Willis. Recovering from injuries sustained in what authorities describe as a brazen, broad daylight attack on two National Guard members Lakanwal, pleaded innocent through an Arabic interpreter in a brief court appearance on Dec. 2. One soldier, Sarah Beckstrom , 20, died from gunfire.  A 24-year-old, the male guardsman is still recovering from the shooting on Nov. 26 near the Farragut West Metro stop blocks from the White House  They had been deployed…

NATIONAL NEWS Suspect in deadly shooting of National Guard troops pleads not guilty to new charges Jun 16, 2026, 11:53 AM | Updated: 12:00 pm Members of the National Guard stands guard the streets near the White House complex Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Credit: AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) BY ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) — A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to charges in a new indictment that make him eligible for a possible death sentence if he is convicted. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was arraigned on 17 counts, including first-degree murder, in the new indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in Washington. Lakanwal originally pleaded not guilty in January to nine charges in the November 2025 shooting that killed Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. Before the Justice Department announces whether it will seek the death penalty against Lakanwal, his defense attorneys can meet with prosecutors and present any evidence that they believe weighs against a …

National Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty as prosecutors review ... Rahmanullah Lakanwal faces nine charges, including first-degree murder. The manaccused of ambushingWest Virginia National Guard members near the White House in November, where one was killed and another severely wounded, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Wednesday. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan, was arraigned on nine charges, including first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and illegal possession of a firearm. Lakanwal appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, seemingly still recovering from the injuriesprosecutors sayhe sustained in the incident. The Justice Department's push for the death penalty remains incomplete, withprosecutors telling Judge Amit Mehta that none of the current charges allow them to seek capital punishment. Prosecutors said in court they are reviewing potential additional charges that could make the case death penalty-eligible.Lakanwal is due back in court in early March. "We will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our cou…

Suspect in National Guard shooting faces new federal charges that ... WASHINGTON --A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House has been charged in a complaint with federal firearms charges in connection with the ambush on November 26 that fatally wounded one of the West Virginia National Guard members and seriously injured the second. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, has been charged with transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with the intent to commit an offense punishable for more than one year. He has also been charged federally with transporting a stolen firearm in interstate commerce. "The transfer of this case from Superior Court to District Court ensures that we can undertake the serious, deliberate, and weighty analysis required to determine if the death penalty is appropriate here," said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. "Sarah Beckstrom was just 20 years old when she was killed and her parents are now forced to endure the holiday season without their daughter. Andrew Wolfe, by the grace of God, survived but has a long road ahead in his recovery." Lakanwal remains charged with first-degree murder, assault with intent to kill and illegal possessi…