Justice Department unseals superseding federal charges against man accused in shooting of National Guard members in Washington

The Justice Department unsealed a superseding indictment bringing additional federal charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national accused in the November shooting of two National Guard members who were patrolling in Washington, according to the department and a report published Tuesday.

Prosecutors said the new indictment adds eight charges and includes a count described as the murder of a person assisting a federal officer. The filing was unsealed after Lakanwal entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, according to the report.

The November incident involved National Guard members who were on duty in the nation’s capital, and the case has been handled in federal court as a matter of criminal prosecution tied to federal officers and related offenses, the report said. The Justice Department did not indicate, in the coverage available here, whether the superseding indictment replaces an earlier charging document or expands charges that were already pending.

The update comes as the federal case proceeds on the government’s theory of how the shooting occurred and who was targeted. By adding counts tied to a federal officer and related criminal conduct, the government seeks to establish criminal liability across multiple statutory theories, including conduct that prosecutors characterize as fatal and against persons assisting federal authority.

Lakanwal’s not-guilty plea preserves his right to contest the allegations at trial or in further pretrial proceedings. Under federal procedure, a superseding indictment can change the scope of the case by adding or modifying counts and factual allegations, which may affect motions practice, evidentiary disputes, and the government’s burden at trial.

The Justice Department’s decision to unseal new charges also increases the need for timely disclosure and litigation over discovery obligations, protective orders, and any motions addressing the sufficiency of the charges. A superseding indictment typically requires the defense to respond within specified timelines set by the court, and the next steps in the case will depend on scheduling orders and rulings on any pending motions.