Accused Shooter of National Guard Members Hospitalized After Hunger Strike
WHO:
CNN - Lakanwal worked with the CIA for over a decade in Afghanistan before the US military withdrew from the country.
ABC News - Lakanwal is an Afghan national who came to the US in 2021.
CNN - Rahmanullah Lakanwal is the accused shooter.
CNN - US District Judge Amit Mehta presided over the emergency hearing.
CNN - Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe are the National Guard members involved in the shooting.
WHAT:
CNN - Judge Amit Mehta stated, “Mr. Lakanwal’s health has deteriorated quite substantially,” during an emergency hearing.
AP News - Lakanwal was admitted to George Washington University Hospital at midnight for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life.
ABC News - Sarah Beckstrom, one of the National Guard members shot, was pronounced dead the next day after the incident.
ABC News - Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, the other National Guard member involved, survived the attack.
ABC News - Lakanwal is accused of driving to the nation’s capital from Bellingham, Washington, while in possession of a stolen firearm and ambushing the two Guard members outside a subway station three blocks from the White House.
ABC News - Another National Guard member heard gunshots and saw Beckstrom and Wolfe fall to the ground as Lakanwal fired a gun and screamed, “Allahu Akbar!” according to a police report.
ABC News - Lakanwal was taken to a hospital for treatment of a potentially life-threatening medical condition after refusing to eat food in jail.
ABC News - Prosecutors stated that Lakanwal was rushed to a hospital overnight “for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life.”
ABC News - The U.S. Marshals Service notified prosecutors last month of concerns that Lakanwal was at risk of long-term health consequences, including death, due to his “refusal to consume adequate nutrition for an extended period.”
CNN - Judge Amit Mehta instructed prosecutors to submit a proposed order that would give them access to Lakanwal's recent medical records.
CNN - Lakanwal has been hospitalized after refusing to eat and sometimes drink in prison.
CNN - Lakanwal is facing nine charges, including first-degree murder.
CNN - The Justice Department plans to seek the death penalty against Lakanwal.
NY Post - Lakanwal's health has deteriorated substantially, described as being in "dire circumstances."
WHERE:
CNN - The shooting occurred in Washington, DC.
CNN - Lakanwal was admitted to George Washington University Hospital.
WHEN:
ABC News - A trial date for Lakanwal's case hasn’t been scheduled yet.
CNN - The shooting incident occurred in 2025.
CNN - Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to the charges in February.
CNN - Lakanwal traveled to Washington, DC, in late November.
WHY:
ABC News - Courts have held that prison officials can involuntarily feed “hunger-striking prisoners” to save their lives.
CNN - Lakanwal's health issues are described as "self-inflicted" due to his refusal of food and water.
HOW:
Fox News - Lakanwal's health condition has been described as "self-inflicted" due to his refusal to eat and drink.
ABC News - Lakanwal was shot during the confrontation and appeared remotely by video from a hospital bed in December for his first hearing before a judge.
CNN - Lakanwal was advised by the US Marshal Service of general health issues two weeks prior to his hospitalization.
(UPDATED July 10, 2026 12:46 UTC)
In a concerning development, Judge Amit Mehta revealed during an emergency hearing that Mr. Lakanwal’s health has deteriorated significantly, leading to his admission at George Washington University Hospital for life-preserving medical treatment. Reports indicate that Lakanwal's condition is considered "self-inflicted" due to his refusal to eat and drink. Meanwhile, in a tragic update, Sarah Beckstrom, one of the National Guard members shot in a recent incident, was pronounced dead the following day, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, the other member involved, survived the attack.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 11:54 UTC)
Lakanwal, an Afghan national who worked with the CIA for over a decade in Afghanistan before relocating to the U.S. in 2021, is accused of ambushing two National Guard members outside a subway station just three blocks from the White House. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and saw the Guard members fall as Lakanwal allegedly fired a weapon while shouting, “Allahu Akbar!” A trial date for Lakanwal's case has not yet been scheduled.
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(UPDATED July 10, 2026 00:19 UTC)
Lakanwal was taken to a hospital for treatment of a potentially life-threatening medical condition after refusing to eat food in jail, prompting prosecutors to state he was rushed overnight for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life. The U.S. Marshals Service had previously notified prosecutors of concerns regarding Lakanwal's health, indicating he was at risk of long-term consequences, including death, due to his refusal to consume adequate nutrition. In response to the situation, Judge Amit Mehta has instructed prosecutors to submit a proposed order for access to Lakanwal's recent medical records.
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(UPDATED July 9, 2026 23:21 UTC)
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the accused shooter involved in a recent incident in Washington, DC, is currently hospitalized at George Washington University Hospital after refusing to eat and drink while in prison. Facing nine charges, including first-degree murder, Lakanwal's health has significantly deteriorated, leading the Justice Department to plan to seek the death penalty against him. Lakanwal pleaded not guilty to the charges in February, and his health issues have been described as "self-inflicted," following advice from the US Marshal Service about his general health two weeks before his hospitalization.