2 National guard members were shot on Thanksgiving Eve near the White House, killing one and injuring the second. On December second, the suspect Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, appeared before a judge virtually from his hospital bed while recovering from the wounds he received after being shot by another National Guardsman. He was formally charged with 1 count murder, 2 counts of assault with intent to kill, and 1 count of possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to all counts when he attended his virtual hearing. He had a court appointed attorney enter his plea, Lakanwal said through an Interpreter that “he was in pain and couldn’t open his eyes”(Kunzelman,Dec 3) . Lakanwal allegedly killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24.

Another Guardsman heard gunshots and had seen the two falling as the suspect allegedly fired at them and screamed “Allahu Akbar!” which means “God is the greater” in English. In a report published by the D.O.J. other guardsmen quickly engaged and detained Lakanwal. D.C. Superior Judge, Renne Raymond,  ordered him to be held without bail. His case is due to be back in court by January fourteenth.

Authorities say that they are looking for a possible reason behind this ambush style attack with prosecutor, Ariel Dean, describing the shooting to PBS as  “a shocking crime” and stating that lakanwal “traversed the city for some time” before attacking (Dean,Dec 3).

Judge Raymond ordered him to be detained citing “the sheer terror that resulted” from what he allegedly has done.