Suspect in Washington, DC, shooting charged with murder after soldier dies

"They came two days after Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, shot West Virginia National Guard members Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Andrew Wolfe, 24, just blocks from the White House. Late Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced that Beckstrom, who had been deployed to the capital as part of what the president has framed as an anti-crime drive, had died of her wounds."

"Pirro made the announcement on the Fox and Friends TV programme, a day after she said that Washington state resident Lakanwal would face three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Lakanwal will now be charged with murder in the first degree, she said on Friday. There are certainly many more charges to come, but we are upgrading the initial charges from assault to murder in the first degree."

"Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously said she would seek the death penalty if either of the soldiers died from the attack. The FBI has said it is investigating the attack as terrorism. On Friday, National Guard member Wolfe remained in critical condition. The upgraded charges come shortly after the Trump administration promised a widespread crackdown on immigration in the wake of the attack, as well as a revetting of immigrants already in the US."

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, has been charged with murder in the first degree after allegedly shooting two West Virginia National Guard members near the White House. One victim, 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom, died of her wounds; 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe remained in critical condition. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced upgraded charges following initial assault and firearm counts. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the death penalty would be sought if either soldier died. The FBI is investigating the incident as terrorism. The Trump administration promised an immigration crackdown and revetting of immigrants, prompting criticism from advocacy groups.

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