Military Attack Suspect Was Isolated for Weeks Isolated in Room, Case Worker's Email Indicated.
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The man accused of shooting two military personnel in the nation's capital recently had reportedly passed extended periods alone in a dimly lit room and suffered from "manic episodes," as per comments written in 2024 by a support worker who assisted 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 said the man in his late twenties came to the US in 2021 as part of a initiative for Afghans who had worked with American troops in Afghanistan.
Revealed Information on Psychological State
According to emails from last year, Mr. Lakanwal faced challenges with his mental health.
In a separate message sent on 31 January 2024, the case worker said Mr. Lakanwal "spends the majority of his days for consecutive weeks in his darkened bedroom, refusing to talk to a soul, including his spouse and children."
The individual, who was not a mental health professional, also added Mr. Lakanwal had "manic episodes for one or two weeks at a time where he would take off in the family car." They also mentioned he had times in which he would try to "make amends."
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Background and Current Events
Mr. Lakanwal, an citizen of Afghanistan, came to the US via the recent Operation Allies Welcome. This was during the period after the disorderly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
He sought refugee status in 2024, and his application was granted recently.
He resided with his wife and five children in a city in Washington state.
"World Relief workers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are untreated, and he refuses to speak with anyone," a section of an previous communication states.
Last week, a longtime acquaintance told a publication that Mr. Lakanwal had experienced mental health issues after his work with his team in Afghanistan.
Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a member of a "Zero Unit" - an Afghan intelligence and militia that worked with a US intelligence agency.
Official Reaction and Legal Proceedings
In the days after the shooting in the capital, the President vowed to "halt immigration" from certain countries.
The administration has halted all asylum decisions "to guarantee that every individual is thoroughly investigated to the fullest extent," a director stated.
Mr. Lakanwal, who was injured in the event and remains in hospital, faces murder charges.
