The Afghan national accused of killing a National Guard member and opening fire on others near the White House last year has been transferred from prison to a hospital due to his refusal to eat or drink.
Federal prosecutors informed the court that Rahmanullah Lakanwal was hospitalized Wednesday around midnight to "preserve his life." This decision followed a warning from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in June that Lakanwal was refusing to "consume adequate nutrition for an extended period." USMS officials expressed concern that Lakanwal had placed himself "at risk for long-term health consequences, including a potential risk of death."
During an emergency hearing Thursday morning, D.C. District Judge Amit Mehta described the suspect's condition as "dire" and "self-inflicted," according to a transcript obtained by The New York Times.
Lakanwal, 30, faces 17 charges, including first-degree murder, for the attack on November 26, 2025, which killed West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and severely wounded Guardsman Andrew Wolfe. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted of the murder charge, he could face the death penalty.
Prosecutors also revealed on June 16, 2026, the day Lakanwal entered his plea, that a protective order prevented the government from accessing his medical records. The judge subsequently ruled that prosecutors are entitled to Lakanwal's medical records and information from his treatment providers for the duration of his hospitalization.
Lakanwal made his initial court appearance last month, months after the incident, appearing in an orange prison jumpsuit and a wheelchair. Court records indicate he allegedly drove from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to Washington, D.C., in possession of a stolen firearm. Prosecutors stated he then opened fire on members of the West Virginia National Guard, striking Beckstrom and Wolfe in the head. Two other National Guard members subdued Lakanwal at the scene.
Investigators reportedly recovered a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver that had been reported stolen in Seattle in 2023. Specialist Beckstrom died from her injuries on Thanksgiving, while Guardsman Wolfe continues to recover. Both service members were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart by President Donald Trump in February.
