Suspected shooter of West Virginia National Guardsmen pleads not guilty to 9 federal charges

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national who is suspected of shooting two West Virginia National Guardsmen in November, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to nine federal charges through his attorneys.Lakanwal is charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, illegal possession of a firearm, and six related charges, The Hill reported. He is accused of shooting U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, near Farragut West Metro Station in November.
Beckstrom died of her injuries the day after the shooting, while Wolfe is in an in-patient rehab facility and ready to begin an 8-12 week residential rehab program, according to his mother.
Lakanwal was hospitalized following the shooting, as he was shot by another Guardsman, and was present in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, relying on a translator throughout the hearing.
U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Amit Mehta asked federal prosecutors on Wednesday whether they would pursue additional charges that would allow them to seek the death penalty. Prosecutors told the judge that they are pursuing “death-eligible charges.”
Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to four federal charges related to the shooting in December, but the Justice Department announced last month that it was bringing additional charges against him.

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