Newly revealed emails paint a troubling picture of the mental state of the man accused of a fatal shooting near the White House last week, showing a history of severe isolation and erratic behaviour.
A Struggle to Assimilate and a Descent into Isolation
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, the 29-year-old suspect charged with first-degree murder, had been grappling with his mental health for years, according to correspondence obtained by the Associated Press. The emails describe a man who found it impossible to hold a job or commit to English lessons, cycling between prolonged spells of dark isolation and impulsive cross-country journeys.
Lakanwal, who entered the United States in 2021 through the Biden-era Operation Allies Welcome programme after working with a CIA-backed Afghan army unit, resettled in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and five young sons. However, he struggled profoundly to adapt to his new life.
Mounting Warnings and Erratic Episodes
The documents reveal mounting concerns from those trying to support him. A community advocate, fearing Lakanwal was becoming suicidal, reached out to a refugee organisation for help. The emails detail periods where he would spend "weeks on end" in a darkened room, not speaking to anyone, including his family.
This deep isolation was punctuated by what were described as "manic" episodes. "He will take off in the family car, and drive nonstop," one email stated, noting trips to Chicago and Arizona. Despite the clear deterioration, those involved did not see indications he would commit violence against others.
A case worker noted in a January 2024 email that Lakanwal had "not been functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year." The family faced eviction in 2023 after months of unpaid rent.
The Attack and Its Aftermath
The context of these struggles came into sharp focus on the eve of Thanksgiving in Washington DC. Authorities say Lakanwal drove from Washington state to the nation's capital, where he opened fire on West Virginia National Guard members.
The shooting killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe in critical condition. Lakanwal was shot by another guardsman during the incident and remains hospitalised.
In the wake of the attack, US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, confirmed the cross-country journey. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem suggested on NBC's Meet the Press that Lakanwal had been "radicalised since he’s been here in this country," though provided no specific evidence.
The case worker who knew him offered a different perspective to CBS News, describing a man defeated by his new world: "Rahmanullah was a man who was extremely proud and capable in the world he came from, who felt defeated in the world he came to."
