Afghan asylum seeker accused of shooting in US capital faces possible death penalty

Admin December 27, 2025

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Rahmanullah Lucknow, a 29-year-old Afghan refugee accused of fatally shooting two U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C., is now facing new federal charges that could lead to the death penalty. The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that the case has been moved from local to federal court, paving the way for the death penalty, as state courts in Washington, D.C. do not have the authority to issue death sentences, and such sentences can only be reviewed and enforced at the federal level. The shooting occurred on November 26, just steps from the White House. In the incident, Sarah Backstrom, a 20-year-old soldier, died a few days later in the hospital, and Andrew Wolf, a 24-year-old Air Force sergeant, was treated for serious injuries. According to security camera footage, the assailant pursued and shot another soldier after the first shot. Court documents show that Luckenwal obtained a stolen assault rifle in Washington state about two weeks before the attack and drove it to the U.S. capital. He is also charged with interstate transportation of a stolen weapon, possession of a weapon with intent to commit a crime and use of a weapon during an act of violence. The next court hearing is scheduled for the second of next month, and prosecutors are expected to make a final decision on whether to formally seek the death penalty.

In addition to the legal aspect, the case has also had wide-ranging political and social implications and has become a national debate. After this incident, the US government has stopped processing many asylum cases and the visa process for applicants from Afghanistan. This decision has effectively left thousands of Afghans who were waiting to process their applications for residency, family reunification or refugee status facing a dead end. Families who had hoped to escape the insecurity of the past are now living in fear and anxiety about their future.

In cities in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, California, areas where large populations of Afghans have settled since 2021, the reactions have been widespread and worrying. Many immigrants say that the incident has fueled increased discrimination, mistrust and fear among Afghan citizens. Immigrant rights activists have warned that an individual incident should not be the basis for a collective response to an entire community and that the psychological, social and legal consequences of such policies can be very serious.