BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The man accused of shooting two National Guard members made his first appearance in federal court on Monday, Dec. 29.

King5 reports that 29-year-old Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to five charges, including first-degree murder.

He arrived in the courtroom in a wheelchair as he continues to recover from gunshot wounds he suffered from authorities after the shooting.

Lakanwal was arrested after a National Guard soldier was killed and another was injured in Washington D.C. last month.

According to the Associated Press (AP), Lakanwal worked in the Afghan army before moving to Bellingham with his wife and their five sons.

The AP reports that Lakanwal’s struggle to assimilate became so extreme that a community advocate reached out to a refugee organization for help.

Prosecutors claim Lakanwal drove across the country from Bellingham in order to carry out the shooting on Nov. 26.

His next court appearance is set for Jan. 15, 2026.