Military Shooting Accused Spent Weeks Alone in Bedroom, Case Worker's Message Said.

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The individual accused of firing upon two National Guard members in Washington DC last week had according to accounts passed weeks at a time alone in a dimly lit room and experienced "periods of mania," as per comments documented in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of carrying out an "surprise attack" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolf, 24.

Officials said the 29-year-old came to the US in 2021 as part of a initiative for individuals from Afghanistan who had assisted US forces in Afghanistan.

Emerging Information on Psychological State

According to electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal faced challenges with his mental health.

In a separate message dated on 31 January 2024, the case worker noted Mr. Lakanwal "passes the majority of his days for consecutive weeks in his darkened room, refusing to talk to anyone, including his spouse and children."

The case worker, 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 drive away in the family car." They also mentioned he had times in which he would try to "apologize and reconcile."

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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 during the period after the disorderly US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

He applied for refugee status in 2024, and his request was approved recently.

He lived with his wife and five children in a city in Washington state.

"Aid group volunteers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are not addressed, and he won't talk to anybody," one part of an earlier communication reads.

Last week, a longtime acquaintance informed a publication that Mr. Lakanwal had dealt with mental health issues after his service with his team in Afghanistan.

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

Government Reaction and Charges

In the days after the attack in the capital, the President vowed to "halt migration" from certain countries.

The government has paused all refugee claims "to guarantee that every individual is thoroughly investigated to the maximum degree possible," a senior official said.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was shot in the event and is still hospitalized, is facing murder charges.