The Afghan national who allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., Wednesday previously showed signs of mental illness and isolation, according to a report.
Rahmanullah Lakanwal had struggled to adapt to his new life in the United States, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press (AP). A community advocate shared emails with the AP that had been sent to the nonprofit U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).
The community member, who reportedly works with Afghan families in Washington state, said the asylum-seeker’s erratic conduct had raised alarms before the attack, suggesting Lawanwal had struggled to assimilate, find a steady job or commit to his English classes. (RELATED: Three Teens Charged With Murdering Man Who Escaped 9/11 Terror Attack)
“Rahmanullah has not been functional as a person, father and provider since March of last year, 03/2023. He quit his job that month, and his behavior has changed greatly,” the community member, who chose to stay anonymous, wrote in a January 2024 email obtained by the AP.
The email said that despite resettling with his wife and their five sons, Lakanwal would alternate between “periods of dark isolation and reckless travel,” often spending weeks in a “darkened room, not speaking to anyone, not even his wife or older kids.”
Family members would often send Lakanwal’s youngest sons to deliver messages to him because he would not respond to anyone else, according to one email obtained by the outlet.
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 26: Members of law enforcement, including the U.S. Secret Service and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, respond to a shooting near the White House on November 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. At least two National Guardsmen have been shot blocks from the White House. According to reports, a suspect is being detained at a local hospital. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
When the wife was gone for the week, the children would not bathe, change clothes or eat well, prompting their school to share concerns, according to the AP.
Lakanwal and his family were also evicted after months of not paying rent, the outlet reported, citing the emails.
The community leader was concerned that Lakanwal would harm himself, but saw no indication that he would harm others, according to an interview with the outlet.
Lakanwal would also go through “interim” periods when he would try to “do the right things,” according to one email, the outlet reported.
“But that has quickly evolved into ‘manic’ episodes for one or two weeks at a time, where he will take off in the family car, and drive nonstop,” according to the email.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, said Lakanwal drove across the country from Washington state to the nation’s capital, where he allegedly shot the two National Guardsmen.
The shooting resulted in the death of West Virginia National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was critically injured. Authorities charged Lakanwal with first-degree murder.
USCRI responded to the two emails by visiting Lakanwal’s hometown in 2024, the AP reported. However, the community member determined that Lakanwal had refused their assistance due to a lack of updates from the nonprofit.
The Daily Caller reached out to USCRI but has not yet heard back.