A day after tragedy struck the nation’s Capital, resulting in the death of 20-year-old National Guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will seek death penalty charges against the suspect.
29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal was taken into custody on Wednesday for allegedly killing Beckstrom and injuring West Virginia National Guard member Andrew Wolfe, who is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
Lakanwal was also injured in the attack and is currently in the hospital, but is expected to recover.
On Thanksgiving Day, President Donald Trump announced that Beckstrom had succumbed to her injuries. Both she and Wolfe were involved in a sickening attack less than 24 hours after being sworn into the National Guard.
After Beckstrom’s death was announced, the DOJ said it would seek the death penalty for the suspect. The Afghan national entered the U.S. in 2021 after the Biden administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, per the New York Post.
“I will tell you early, we will do everything in our power to seek the death penalty against that monster who should not have been in our country,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
Lakanwal is currently facing three counts of assault with the intent to kill as well as criminally possessing a weapon.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro had vowed to increase the charges if one of the soldiers were killed.
“If one of them is to pass, and God forbid that happens, this is a murder-one. Period, end of the story,” Pirro said before Beckstrom’s death.
Bondi furiously rebuked the progressive left for its rhetoric against National Guard members.
“It’s actually sad what our country has come to with these progressive left idiots who are doing this and saying this about our heroes who are keeping them safe,” the attorney general said.
Bondi lambasted lawmakers and left-leaning TV hosts for their “despicable” comments about the National Guard and pointed out that instead of disparaging troops, they should be praising them.
“What these lawmakers are doing, what some of these news anchors on other networks are doing, what their guests are saying is disgusting, it’s despicable,” she said. “They should be praising our men and women in law enforcement. We’re looking at everything they have said and why they said it and if they encouraged acts of violence.”
Before Beckstrom’s death was announced, Trump pledged that the suspect would face severe consequences.
“The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!” Trump said.
