Judge orders force-feeding of National Guard shooting suspect amid hunger strike

A federal judge ordered Rahmanullah Lakanwal to be force-fed and receive life-preserving medical treatment despite his hunger strike, via nonconsensual nutrition methods to prevent imminent death. The emergency order allows feeding through a nasal tube, intravenous nutrition, or a pre-existing stomach tube, and is set to remain in effect until the detainee’s life is no longer at risk or the court decides otherwise, with officials noting it could last until late October. Prosecutors say the measures are necessary to save his life, while defense attorneys have challenged the lack of information and oppose nonconsensual feeding, citing ongoing disputes over the hunger strike. Lakanwal, an Afghan national on humanitarian parole, faces multiple federal charges including first-degree murder for the November attack near the White House that killed a National Guard member and wounded another; he has pleaded not guilty. The case continues amid heightened security operations around Washington, with officials framing the actions as life-saving under a court order that may extend into late fall, and the defense signaling potential challenges to the feeding order based on medical records and his reported occasional oral intake.