Military Attack Accused Spent Weeks Alone in Room, Social Worker's Email Revealed.

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The individual alleged to have carried out shooting two military personnel in Washington DC last week had reportedly spent extended periods alone in a dark room and suffered from "periods of mania," according to comments written in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of perpetrating an "surprise attack" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injured Andrew Wolf, 24.

Authorities said the man in his late twenties came to the US in 2021 as part of a initiative for individuals from Afghanistan who had assisted American troops in Afghanistan.

Emerging Information on Mental Health

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

In a different message dated on 31 January 2024, the worker said Mr. Lakanwal "passes most of his time for consecutive weeks in his blacked-out bedroom, refusing to talk to a soul, not even his wife and older kids."

The case worker, who was not a clinician, also added Mr. Lakanwal had "hyperactive periods for one or two weeks at a time where he would drive away in the family car." They also described he had times in which he would try to "apologize and reconcile."

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Background and Recent Events

Mr. Lakanwal, an Afghan national, entered the US via the recent resettlement program. This was during the period after the disorderly US military exit from Afghanistan.

He sought asylum in 2024, and his request was approved earlier this year.

He resided with his family in a city in Washington state.

"World Relief volunteers are trying to patch things for that family - but I think the father has mental health issues that are not addressed, and he refuses to speak with anybody," a section of an previous email reads.

Last week, a longtime acquaintance informed a publication that Mr. Lakanwal had experienced psychological challenges after his work with his unit in Afghanistan.

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

Government Reaction and Legal Proceedings

In the aftermath of the attack in the capital, the President vowed to "permanently pause migration" from certain countries.

The government has paused all asylum decisions "until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible," a senior official stated.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was shot during the incident and is still hospitalized, is facing murder charges.