Prosecutors haven’t ruled out seeking the death penalty in National Guard shooting

(AP) - A prosecutor says the Justice Department is still weighing whether to seek the death penalty against a man charged with shooting two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them.

Prosecutors may seek to add charges that would make Rahmanullah Lakanwal eligible for a death sentence if he’s convicted in the Nov. 26 ambush, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Tortorice said Wednesday during the defendant’s court appearance.

“We’re pursuing those options,” Tortorice told U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta. “We’re continuing to look at that.”

Mehta said he wasn’t asking for any “firm commitments” from the government yet.

“I’d rather get to that point sooner rather than later,” the judge said before setting May 6 as Lakanwal’s next court date in Washington.

Lakanwal, an Afghan national, pleaded not guilty to nine counts, including first-degree murder, in the shooting that killed West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Staff. Sgt. Andrew Wolfe.