{
  "id": 4693232,
  "title": "Judge orders National Guard shooting suspect to be force-fed amid hunger strike",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/judge-orders-national-guard-shooting-suspect-to-be-force-fed-amid",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-31T18:26:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CBS News",
    "slug": "cbs-news",
    "url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-national-guard-shooting-suspect-force-feeding/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A federal judge has mandated the force-feeding of an individual accused of fatally shooting a National Guard member and gravely injuring another in Washington, D.C., following a prolonged refusal to consume food or water while in government custody. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issued the directive in a court order dated Saturday, emphasizing the necessity of the treatment to either save his life or prevent a potentially fatal deterioration in his condition. Lakanwal, per the judge's order, will undergo this treatment until he accepts adequate oral intake of food and liquids and begins to accept medical treatment, thereby ensuring his life is no longer at risk. The Justice Department revealed in recent filings that Lakanwal was transferred to a D.C. hospital on July 9 for emergency medical care, as he had been refusing meals since June while awaiting trial. This court order will remain effective until October 28. Lakanwal, an Afghan national granted humanitarian parole to enter the U.S. in 2021, is alleged to have killed Army Spc Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded Air Force Staff Sgt Andrew Wolfe during an ambush-style shooting near the White House last November. He faces over a dozen federal charges, including murder of a person assisting an officer of the United States and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime resulting in death, both of which carry the death penalty. Lakanwal has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Justice Department is currently reviewing the possibility of seeking the death penalty in his case.",
  "summary": "Rahmanullah Lakanwal, accused last year of fatally shooting a National Guard member and severely injuring another, has been refusing to eat for months while in government custody.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}