National Guard Shooting Accused Spent Weeks Isolated in Room, Social Worker's Email Revealed.
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The man alleged to have carried out shooting two National Guard members in the nation's capital last week had reportedly passed weeks at a time alone in a dark room and experienced "manic episodes," according to notes written in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal is charged with carrying out an "surprise attack" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injured Andrew Wolf, 24.
Officials stated the 29-year-old came to the US in 2021 under a programme for individuals from Afghanistan who had assisted American troops in Afghanistan.
Emerging Details on Mental Health
According to electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal struggled with his mental health.
In a separate message sent on 31 January 2024, the case worker said Mr. Lakanwal "passes most of his time for consecutive weeks in his darkened room, refusing to talk to anyone, not even his wife and older kids."
The case worker, who was not a clinician, also said Mr. Lakanwal had "manic episodes for a week or two at a time where he would drive away in the family car." They also mentioned he had periods in which he would try to "make amends."
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Background and Recent Developments
Mr. Lakanwal, an Afghan national, came to the US as part of the recent resettlement program. This was in the wake after the chaotic US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He applied for asylum in 2024, and his request was granted earlier this year.
He resided with his family in Bellingham, Washington.
"Aid group volunteers are attempting to assist for that family - but I think the father has mental health issues that are untreated, and he won't talk to anybody," a section of an previous communication reads.
Last week, a longtime acquaintance informed a newspaper that Mr. Lakanwal had dealt with psychological challenges after his work with his unit in Afghanistan.
Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a part of a "special unit" - an local intelligence and militia that collaborated with a American spy agency.
Government Reaction and Charges
In the aftermath of the shooting in the capital, the administration vowed to "permanently pause migration" from certain countries.
The administration has paused all refugee claims "until we can ensure that every individual is vetted and screened to the fullest extent," a director said.
Mr. Lakanwal, who was shot in the event and remains in hospital, is facing murder charges.
