Federal Judge Orders Force-Feeding of Accused National Guard Shooter Near White House

A federal judge ruled that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused of killing a National Guard soldier near the White House, can be force-fed during his hunger strike.

Accused White House Shooter Ordered Force-Fed as Health Turns 'Dire'

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has authorized the force-feeding of a man accused of fatally shooting a National Guard soldier near the White House, Law & Crime reports. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta signed the order on Aug. 29, ruling that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, 30, can receive nonconsensual nutrition and medical treatment while he remains on what prosecutors describe as an ongoing hunger strike.

Lakanwal faces multiple charges — including murder and attempted murder — in connection with the November 2025 shooting of Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24. Authorities say Lakanwal opened fire on the two soldiers "without provocation" with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver near the White House. Beckstrom was killed; Wolfe survived. Officers shot Lakanwal four times during the incident.

Refusal to Eat Since Day of Arrest

According to a U.S. Justice Department emergency motion, Lakanwal has refused "food and, in some cases, water" since he was taken into custody on Nov. 26, 2025. His health "deteriorated quite substantially" in the months that followed, and by July 2026 his condition had become "dire," the DOJ stated.

During a spring 2026 hospitalization — itself a result of his refusal to accept food — Lakanwal indicated that if he became incapacitated, he consented to whatever care was necessary to preserve his life. He was later returned to jail, where the DOJ says he again refused food.

Scope of the Court Order

Judge Mehta's order directs medical staff at the Bureau of Prisons and any treatment facility where Lakanwal is housed to provide nonconsensual nutrition and medical treatment whenever his refusal "threatens his life by creating an imminent risk of death" or would foreseeably cause a deterioration that, left untreated, is likely to lead to death.

The order explicitly authorizes nasogastric tube feeding, intravenous feeding, and feeding through an already-implanted gastrostomy tube. It does not, however, authorize a nonconsensual gastrostomy — a surgical procedure to place a new feeding tube directly into the stomach.

The DOJ argued in its motion that the refusal creates an imminent risk: "Such refusal threatens his life by creating an imminent risk of death or if continued refusal would foreseeably cause a deterioration in his condition that if not treated is likely to lead to death."

Prosecutors also cited institutional order as a factor, arguing that allowing a hunger-striking defendant to die could signal government indifference to inmate welfare and "likely incite disorderly conduct" among other inmates.

Defense: His Position 'Fluctuates'

Lakanwal's public defenders have pushed back against the emergency motion. They acknowledge that their client "has been adamant at times that he does not wish to receive sustenance," but say he has also consumed food orally on certain occasions — specifically applesauce — according to their opposition filing.

"From the medical records provided and from the government's motion, it appears his position fluctuates," the defense wrote. Counsel said it anticipated conferring further with Lakanwal to gather more information and, if appropriate, file a fuller response to the government's emergency motion.

The defense also stated plainly that Lakanwal "does not wish to have nonconsensual nutrition provided."

Death Penalty on the Table

Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro addressed the case in a June 2026 statement: "Sarah Beckstrom was 20 years old, serving her country in the nation's capital, when Rahmanullah Lakanwal allegedly drove across the country and executed her in cold blood steps from the White House. That is not just a crime, it is a major offense against the United States. We will pursue every penalty the law permits as we seek justice for Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe."

Source: Law & Crime