A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges during his first appearance before a judge by video link from a hospital bed.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who was also shot, faces charges stemming from the November 26 shooting that killed Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and wounded Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe, 24. His lawyer entered a not guilty plea on his behalf during a brief court hearing in Washington, DC.

Ms Beckstrom and Mr Wolfe were deployed with the West Virginia National Guard for US president Donald Trump’s law-enforcement surge in the nation’s capital, which has flooded the city with federal agents and troops since August.

Authorities were investigating a possible motive for

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