Suspect Hospitalized Post-Hunger Strike
Afghan National Guard Shooting Suspect Hospitalized Following Hunger Strike Amid Capital Case
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Key Points
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Lakanwal was admitted to George Washington University Hospital at midnight after the emergency hearing, with Judge Amit Mehta noting his health had deteriorated rapidly and describing the situation in court as 'self-inflicted'.
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Prosecutors were granted access to Lakanwal's medical records from the past 24 hours to help determine next steps, but those records were sealed at the time.
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U.S. Marshals Service had alerted authorities about general health issues affecting Lakanwal roughly two weeks before the hospitalization, signaling preexisting custody concerns.
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The hospitalization occurred during a capital-case process, with Beckstrom having died the day after the attack and Wolfe surviving, underscoring the gravity and timeline of the case.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old Afghan national accused of ambushing two National Guard members near a Washington, D.C., Metro station, has been hospitalized after refusing to eat and sometimes drink while in jail, according to Washington Examiner and GW Hatchet. Judge Amit Mehta ordered an emergency hearing after Lakanwal's health deteriorated rapidly, and he was admitted to George Washington University Hospital at midnight.
Lakanwal faces a 17-count superseding indictment, including first-degree murder. The government has signaled it plans to seek the death penalty. One victim, Sgt. Kennedy Beckstrom, died the day after the November 2024 attack. A second soldier, Sgt. William Wolfe, survived serious wounds.
Health Crisis Forces Court to Pause Capital Proceedings
Judge Mehta described the situation in court as "self-inflicted" but moved quickly to address it. Prosecutors were granted access to Lakanwal's medical records from the past 24 hours to help determine next steps, WPSD Local 6 reported. Those records were sealed at the time of the hearing.
The U.S. Marshals Service had flagged general health concerns about Lakanwal roughly two weeks before his hospitalization, according to Yahoo News. That early warning signals the hunger strike was not a sudden development. The court has paused proceedings while his medical condition is addressed.
The November 2024 Attack That Started the Case
Lakanwal is accused of deliberately ambushing two National Guard soldiers near the Farragut West Metro station in November 2024. Beckstrom died the following day. Wolfe survived but suffered serious injuries. The attack was not random — prosecutors say Lakanwal traveled from Washington state to the capital to carry it out, according to GW Hatchet.
Lakanwal is an Afghan national who previously worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. He came to the United States and settled in Washington state before making his way to D.C. in 2021. He now faces nine charges tied directly to the attack, part of a broader 17-count indictment, Head Topics reported.
Death Penalty Push Adds Weight to Legal Fight
The Justice Department has indicated it intends to seek the death penalty, making this a capital case. That designation requires extra legal steps and review before the trial can move forward. The court was already navigating that process when Lakanwal's health crisis forced a halt, according to Washington Examiner.
Capital cases move slowly by design. Courts must ensure a defendant is mentally and physically fit to stand trial. Lakanwal's hunger strike now adds a direct medical obstacle to an already complex legal proceeding. Prosecutors and defense attorneys will need to wait for doctors to stabilize him before proceedings can resume, WPSD Local 6 noted.
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