WASHINGTON, D.C. — Judge Mehta stated the order is intended to preserve Lakanwal's life or prevent a foreseeable deterioration in his condition that is likely to lead to death. The order remains in effect until October 28, 2026, but can be renewed. Lakanwal was moved to a hospital in Washington, D.C. on July 9, 2026, on an emergency basis after refusing to eat starting in June 2026.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is an Afghan national who resided in Bellingham, Washington. He is an alleged perpetrator of the November 2025 shooting that killed West Virginia National Guard Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe.

The shooting occurred near the Farragut West metro station in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors stated that Lakanwal ambushed the Guard members outside a subway station. According to a police report, another National Guard member heard gunshots and saw Beckstrom and Wolfe fall to the ground as Lakanwal fired a gun and screamed, "Allahu Akbar!"

Beckstrom and Wolfe were deployed to Washington as part of President Donald Trump's law-enforcement surge in the nation's capital, which began in summer 2025. Sarah Beckstrom was 20 years old and Andrew Wolfe was 24 years old at the time of the shooting.

Lakanwal was shot during the confrontation and made his initial court appearance from a hospital bed in 2025. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and other charges related to the incident.

Lakanwal faces more than a dozen federal charges for the attack, including murder of a person assisting an officer of the United States and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime that causes death, both of which are death penalty-eligible. Lakanwal also faces attempted murder and firearm charges, along with first-degree murder, assault, and gun possession charges under D.C. law. Lakanwal is charged with attempting to kill two other unnamed service members who subdued him at the scene of the attack. The Justice Department has not announced whether it will seek the death penalty in Lakanwal's case.

What's New

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issued an emergency order on Saturday authorizing involuntary nutrition and medical treatment for Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The court order permits federal Bureau of Prisons medical staff to feed Lakanwal intravenously or through a medical tube.

Justice Department attorneys wrote in a filing that Lakanwal has the medical capacity to make health determinations and is refusing nutrition necessary to sustain his life.

Lakanwal's attorneys stated in a redacted court filing that he has consumed some food, such as applesauce, while hospitalized but has been adamant at times that he did not want to eat. Defense counsel further wrote that the government had not indicated his condition was so dire as to require court intervention and that provided medical records did not support that position.

Why It Matters

The court order addresses a critical intersection of federal custody responsibilities and individual bodily autonomy in a high-profile criminal case. By authorizing involuntary feeding, the court prioritizes the preservation of life for a defendant facing capital charges, ensuring he remains alive to face potential legal proceedings.

The Justice Department has not announced whether it will seek the death penalty in Lakanwal's case, leaving open the question of how this medical intervention aligns with future prosecutorial decisions. The order remains in effect until October 28, 2026, but can be renewed, indicating ongoing judicial oversight of Lakanwal's health status during his detention.