Man charged with killing National Guard member is hospitalized after refusing food, prosecutors say
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Updated 6:06 PM EDT, July 9, 2026
WASHINGTON (AP) — A man accused of shooting two National Guard troops near the White House, killing one of them, has been taken to a hospital for treatment of a potentially life-threatening medical condition after he refused to eat food while jailed in pretrial custody, prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday.
Justice Department prosecutors said they learned Thursday morning that Rahmanullah Lakanwal was rushed to a hospital overnight “for medical treatment necessary to preserve his life.” 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,” the filing says.
The filing doesn’t elaborate on the circumstances of Lakanwal’s refusal to eat, but prosecutors noted that courts have held that prison officials can involuntary feed “hunger-striking prisoners” to save their lives.
The judge presiding over Lakanwal’s case convened an emergency hearing related to the defendant’s medical condition while he remains in federal custody. At the end of the hearing, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta instructed prosecutors to submit a proposed order that would give them access to Lakanwal’s recent medical records.
https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-hospital-lakanwal-cee96a35b76e540ff255ce95afa9ad6b
