Bellingham man suspected of D.C. shootings pleads not guilty to all charges
The Bellingham man accused of shooting two National Guard members, one fatally, in Washington, D.C. in November pleaded not guilty to all charges Wednesday in federal court.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, was arrested Nov. 27 in connection to a double-shooting the day prior. He was indicted on nine charges in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Jan. 9, including premeditated first-degree murder and assault with intent to kill.
At his arraignment Wednesday, he pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to ABC News.
Lakanwal previously pleaded not guilty to charges filed in a local court before the case was transferred to federal court, with two additional charges related to transporting a firearm added.
While the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia previously said they may seek capital punishment for Lakanwal, prosecutors told the judge at his arraignment that none of the current charges would qualify him for the death penalty. ABC News reported that prosecutors said they may add additional charges that would make Lakanwal eligible for the death penalty.
Lakanwal’s next court appearance is scheduled for March.