Story perspectives

Afghan Man Charged in Deadly White House Shooting

12/25/2025

Summary

Story summary

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with federal firearms offenses tied to the shooting near the White House on November 26.
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, was seriously injured.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the case's transfer to District Court will allow review of the death-penalty option.
Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

History

Historical Context

The Gun Control Act of 1968 emerged in response to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, aiming to regulate firearm access for certain individuals. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 22, 1968, it prohibited mail-order sales and restricted gun ownership for felons and the mentally ill, reflecting ongoing debates about gun violence in America.

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Story summary

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with federal firearms offenses tied to the shooting near the White House on November 26.
Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, was seriously injured.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the case's transfer to District Court will allow review of the death-penalty option.
Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

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