National Guard Shooting Suspect 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 recently had according to accounts passed extended periods alone in a dimly lit room and experienced "periods of mania," according to comments documented in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is charged with perpetrating an "ambush" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolf, 24.

Officials stated the 29-year-old came to the US in 2021 as part of a programme for Afghans who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan.

Emerging Details on Mental Health

Based on electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal struggled with his psychological well-being.

In a different email dated on 31 January 2024, the worker said Mr. Lakanwal "spends the majority of his days for consecutive weeks in his darkened room, refusing to talk to a soul, including his wife and older kids."

The individual, who was not a clinician, also added Mr. Lakanwal had "hyperactive periods for one or two weeks at a time where he would take off in the family car." They also described he had periods in which he would try to "make amends."

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History and Current Events

Mr. Lakanwal, an Afghan national, entered the US as part of the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome. This was in the wake after the disorderly US military exit from Afghanistan.

He sought refugee status in 2024, and his request was granted recently.

He resided with his wife and five children in Bellingham, Washington.

"Aid group workers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has mental health issues that are untreated, and he won't talk to anyone," one part of an previous email reads.

Last week, a longtime acquaintance told a newspaper that Mr. Lakanwal had dealt with psychological challenges after his work with his unit in Afghanistan.

Mr. Lakanwal had allegedly been a member of a "special unit" - an local intelligence and militia that worked with a US intelligence agency.

Government Response and Legal Proceedings

In the days after the attack in the capital, the President vowed to "permanently pause immigration" from certain countries.

The government has halted all refugee claims "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the fullest extent," a director stated.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was shot during the incident and is still hospitalized, is facing homicide accusations.