National Guard shooting suspect receives charges as one person dies and another is fighting for their life
The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, has had his charges upgraded
The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in the US capital has been charged with first-degree murder.
29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal has also been charged with three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed.
News broke on November 26 that 'multiple people' had been shot in Washington DC, sparking the White House to go into lockdown.
It was then confirmed that those who were injured included two guardsmen who were left in critical condition as a result of the shocking incident.
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Speaking after the shooting, Jeffrey Carroll, an executive assistant DC police chief, said that investigators had no information on a motive. He also shared that the assailant 'came around the corner' and immediately started firing at the troops, citing video reviewed by investigators.
"It appears to be a lone gunman that raised a firearm and ambushed these members of the National Guard," Carroll added.
Andrew Wolfe, 24, was taken to hospital in a critical condition, while 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom has sadly lost her life.
President Donald Trump confirmed the news in a Thanksgiving call to service members on Thursday (November 27), as he said: “Sarah Beckstrom of West Virginia, one of the guardsmen that we’re talking about, highly respected, young, magnificent person, started service in June of 2023 outstanding in every way. She’s just passed away.”
Callum Jones