Military Attack Suspect Spent Weeks Isolated in Bedroom, Case Worker's Email Said.

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The individual alleged to have carried out firing upon two military personnel in Washington DC recently had according to accounts passed extended periods alone in a dimly lit room and experienced "manic episodes," according to notes documented in 2024 by a case worker that helped the suspect's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is charged with perpetrating an "surprise attack" that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and seriously injured Andrew Wolf, 24.

Officials stated the man in his late twenties entered the US in 2021 as part of a initiative for individuals from Afghanistan who had worked with US forces in Afghanistan.

Revealed Details on Mental Health

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

In a separate email sent on January 31st of last year, the case worker said Mr. Lakanwal "passes the majority of his days for weeks on end in his blacked-out room, not speaking to a soul, including his spouse and children."

The case worker, who was not a clinician, also said Mr. Lakanwal had "manic episodes 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 Current Events

Mr. Lakanwal, an citizen of Afghanistan, came to the US as part of the recent resettlement program. This was in the wake after the chaotic US military exit from Afghanistan.

He sought asylum in 2024, and his application was granted recently.

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

"Aid group workers are attempting to assist for that family - but I think the father has mental health issues that are untreated, and he won't talk to anyone," a section of an previous email reads.

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

Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a member of a "Zero Unit" - an Afghan intelligence and militia that collaborated with a American spy agency.

Government Reaction and Legal Proceedings

In the aftermath of the shooting in Washington DC, the President vowed to "halt migration" from certain countries.

The administration has paused all asylum decisions "until we can ensure that every individual is thoroughly investigated to the fullest extent," a director stated.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was shot in the event and remains in hospital, is facing murder charges.