Following the death of one National Guard member, charges against Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man accused of shooting two soldiers, have been upgraded to first-degree murder. The incident, which occurred near the White House, resulted in Specialist Sarah Beckstrom’s death, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe remains in critical condition. Authorities are actively investigating the motive behind the shooting, with Lakanwal, an Afghan national, also facing assault with intent to kill charges. In response, the U.S. government has announced a pause on all asylum decisions.
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Zarbab Ali, 28, was found guilty of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Rachel Castillo, in Simi Valley in November 2022. Ali confessed to the murder, revealing he buried Castillo’s body in a shallow grave and later exhumed it to rape her corpse. The confession, captured on video, included Ali’s self-identification as a “monster.” Scheduled for sentencing on January 12th, he faces life in prison for the horrific crime.
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Marvin Byrd, 54, has been charged with first-degree murder in St. Louis, Missouri, following the death of his roommate. Court records indicate the shooting occurred after a disagreement during a gathering to watch a college football game. Byrd reportedly shot his roommate after becoming angry over the failure to bring household items and drugs to the event. Byrd claimed the shooting was accidental, but police stated it stemmed from a build-up of frustration. He is currently held without bond.
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According to an arrest affidavit, Phil Archuleta confessed to shooting his common-law wife in the head, stating he did so to prevent her from becoming homeless due to his recent job loss. Archuleta admitted he had been fired in May and was concerned about their financial situation, withholding this information from his wife while planning the murder. He told police he chose to kill her, stating he couldn’t bear the thought of her being homeless and admitted he did not consider any alternatives. Archuleta is now charged with first-degree murder.
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Joseph Koenig was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Alexa Bartell, who was killed when a rock thrown from Koenig’s vehicle crashed through her windshield. Two accomplices, who had previously reached plea deals, testified against Koenig, placing him at the scene and implicating him in the act. While the defense argued for a manslaughter conviction due to Koenig’s mental health and lack of intent to kill, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution. Koenig faces a mandatory life sentence.
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John Q. Hosedrinker