National Guard shooting suspect from Bellingham hospitalized after refusing to eat
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The Bellingham man accused of shooting two National Guard members, one fatally, in Washington, D.C., in November has been hospitalized after refusing to eat while in custody.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal has been indicted on 17 charges including first-degree murder for his role in the death of 20-year-old Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and the injury of 24-year-old Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe. The Department of Justice’s Capital Case Committee is reviewing the charges and grand jury’s findings to determine whether they will seek the death penalty.
Court records obtained by The Bellingham Herald show that the government learned in June from the U.S. Marshal’s Service that there was concern about Lakanwal’s wellbeing due to his “refusal to consume adequate nutrition for an extended period.” They said it has caused physical and physiological changes that put him at risk for long-term health consequences, including death.
On June 16 the government learned that a protective order existed barring the government from receiving medical records related to Lakanwal’s treatment, court documents show. Then, on Thursday morning, they learned Lakanwal was transferred to a hospital for emergency medical treatment around midnight.
The law states that the U.S. Marshal’s Service can’t allow an individual to starve in custody, and it requires them to “provide life-saving nutritional and medical care to persons in custody.”
The court held an emergency hearing Thursday night to consider U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s request for the release of Lakanwal’s medical records related to his recent hospitalization. A judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that medical records from Wednesday through the duration of Lakanwal’s hospitalization must be provided to the government.
This story was originally published July 10, 2026 at 1:20 PM with the headline "National Guard shooting suspect from Bellingham hospitalized after refusing to eat."