Emails obtained by the Associated Press have revealed that Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in Washington DC, had been struggling with his mental health for years. The 29-year-old, who is charged with first-degree murder, reportedly spent 'weeks on end' in isolation as he tried to assimilate after arriving in the United States in 2021.
The emails show mounting warnings about Lakanwal's erratic conduct, which included long periods of dark isolation and sudden, weeks-long cross-country drives. A community advocate reached out to a refugee organization for help, fearing he was becoming suicidal, but saw no indication he would commit violence against another person.
Lakanwal entered the US through Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program that evacuated and resettled tens of thousands of Afghans after the US withdrawal. He worked in a CIA-backed Afghan army unit known as a Zero Unit before resettling in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five sons.
According to the emails, Lakanwal was unable to hold a steady job or commit to English courses, alternating between 'periods of dark isolation and reckless travel'. At one point in 2023, his family faced eviction after months of not paying rent. A case worker described him as 'not functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year'.
The shooting occurred on the eve of Thanksgiving, killing 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and leaving 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. Lakanwal was shot by another National Guard member during the incident and is also hospitalized. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Lakanwal was 'radicalized since he's been here in this country', but provided no further details.
