Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the suspect in the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard soldiers in Washington D.C. on the eve of Thanksgiving, had reportedly been experiencing severe mental health struggles for years following his arrival in the United States in 2021. Emails obtained by the Associated Press indicate that Lakanwal, who had served in a CIA-backed Afghan army unit, found it difficult to assimilate and often alternated between prolonged periods of isolation, sometimes spending "weeks on end" in his room, and impulsive cross-country trips.
These periods of isolation were punctuated by brief attempts to re-engage, but his behavior escalated into what emails described as "manic" episodes, where he would embark on extended drives across the country. His mental health had deteriorated to the point where a community advocate reached out to a refugee organization fearing he was suicidal, though there was no indication he would commit violence against others.
Lakanwal's struggles impacted his ability to maintain employment and English language courses. In one instance, his family faced eviction due to unpaid rent. A case worker described him as being "not functional as a person, father and provider" since March 2023, noting a significant negative turn in his personality in 2024. A former Afghan commando also stated that Lakanwal was deeply affected by the 2024 death of a close friend and fellow commander who had unsuccessfully sought asylum in the US.
Despite these warnings and attempts by organizations like the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants to make contact in March 2024, Lakanwal reportedly drove from his home in Bellingham, Washington, to the nation's capital. He has been charged with first-degree murder, and he himself was shot by another National Guard member during the incident and is hospitalized. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggesting Lakanwal may have been "radicalized since he's been here in this country" through connections within his community.