National Guard shooting suspect force-fed after hunger strike in Washington, D.C., judge rules

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., Amit Mehta, ordered Rahmanullah Lakanwal to be forcibly fed and receive medical treatment after months of refusing to eat or drink while awaiting trial for a November shooting near the White House that killed Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and wounded Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. The order permits nonconsensual feeding via a nasal feeding tube, intravenous nutrition, or an existing stomach tube, with care to terminate once adequate oral intake and treatment are achieved. It remains in effect until the detainee’s life is no longer at risk, with the Justice Department arguing the measures are necessary to preserve his life. Lakanwal, an Afghan national who came to the United States under humanitarian parole in 2021, faces more than a dozen federal charges including murder and attempted murder, to which he has pleaded not guilty. The case unfolds amid broader security operations around the White House and ongoing federal policy debates, including immigration policy under the prior administration. The orders highlight a tense balance between providing life-saving care and enforcing a defendant’s rights while in government custody.