WASHINGTON — Prosecutors said Tuesday that they will seek the death penalty for the Afghan national accused of killing one National Guard member and gravely wounding another in Washington, DC, last year.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 29, made a wild-eyed appearance in federal court, where he was hit with additional charges, some of which made him eligible for execution, if convicted, according to federal prosecutors.

Assistant US Attorney Christopher Tortorice said that the Justice Department would be initiating a formal review process for several of the “eligible” death counts.

Lakanwal wore an orange jumpsuit — and a much longer beard than previous photos of him show — when US Marshals wheeled him into the courtroom. He sustained injuries in the shooting the day before Thanksgiving.

At times, he could be seen muttering to himself.

While prosecutors insisted they had complied with requests for evidence, defense attorneys claimed that “almost no mitigation evidence” had been turned over, nor any details about Lakanwal’s past work for the US government.

A “considerable amount of evidence” has been withheld, including “substantial” unclassified and “significant” classified information, noted defense lawyer Michelle Peterson.

The attorney said that prosecutors have “documents” showing Lakanwal’s work for the US as well as witness interviews revealing he suffered from “mental illnesses.”

Tortorice disputed that his team hadn’t complied with evidentiary requests, pointing to “hundreds of hours” of surveillance camera footage and other video that had been turned over.

Special findings made by a federal grand jury will result in a review by the Department of Justice’s Capital Case Committee to consider whether the death penalty is appropriate in his case.

Prosecutors say he fatally shot West Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured US Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe on Nov. 26, 2025.

Appearing in a wheelchair and wearing an orange jumpsuit, he blinked rapidly during the hearing — muttering to himself and at times wearing a crazed, wide-eyed stare.

The new filing alleges 17 counts, including first-degree armed premeditated murder of a National Guard member, attempted murder of three others, assault with intent to kill as well as transportation of a firearm across state lines to commit a felony and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Armed with a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver, he had ambushed Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, near the Farragut West Metro Station close to the White House, shooting them both in the head, prosecutors claimed.

Lakanwal, armed with a stolen Smith & Wesson revolver, ambushed Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, near the Farragut West Metro Station close to the White House, shooting them both in the head, prosecutors said.

The former Afghan special forces soldier, who came to the US as a refugee, potentially faces the death penalty if convicted of the murder charge.

A childhood friend of Lakanwal told The New York Times the Afghan refugee struggled with mental issues as a result of the violence he saw as part of the CIA-backed paramilitary group. “It put a lot of pressure on his mind,” the friend said.

The suspected shooter was taken down by two nearby National Guardsmen, who shot and stabbed him.

He allegedly drove cross country from his home state of Washington to DC with the stolen .357 Magnum-caliber gun to carry out the attack.

Lakanwal was originally indicted on charges of murder, assault and gun crimes — none of which would have made him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors had said they hoped to bring additional charges that would come with the potential of capital punishment.

Beckstrom volunteered to work that day so that his fellow guardsmen who had kids could spend the holiday with their families.

She died the next day, on Thanksgiving.

The judge scheduled the next hearing for Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.