Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the man charged with the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., has been taken to a local hospital after experiencing significant health issues while in custody.
During an emergency court hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta noted that Lakanwal's condition had worsened, attributing some of his health problems to his refusal to eat and occasionally drink water.
According to court documents, Lakanwal was admitted to George Washington University Hospital shortly after midnight. Prosecutors revealed that the U.S. Marshal Service had informed them about Lakanwal's deteriorating health two weeks prior to his hospitalization.
Judge Mehta granted prosecutors access to Lakanwal's medical records from the past 24 hours, which are currently sealed. These records may provide insight into the next steps in the case against him.
Lakanwal is facing nine charges, including first-degree murder, stemming from an incident in late November 2025, where he allegedly ambushed the two National Guard members. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
One of the victims, Sarah Beckstrom, was fatally shot and pronounced dead the following day, while the other member, Andrew Wolfe, survived the attack.
Having worked with the CIA in Afghanistan for over a decade before relocating to the U.S. in 2021, Lakanwal is currently facing the possibility of the death penalty as outlined by the Justice Department.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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