National Guard Shooting Suspect Spent Weeks Alone in Bedroom, Case Worker's Email Revealed.

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The man alleged to have carried out firing upon two military personnel in the nation's capital recently had reportedly spent weeks at a time alone in a dimly lit room and suffered from "periods of mania," according to notes written in 2024 by a support worker that helped the individual's family.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal is accused of carrying out an "ambush" that took the life of Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically wounded Andrew Wolf, 24.

Officials said the 29-year-old entered the US in 2021 as part of a programme for Afghans who had assisted American troops in Afghanistan.

Emerging Details on Psychological State

Based on electronic correspondence from last year, Mr. Lakanwal struggled with his mental health.

In a different message sent on 31 January 2024, the worker noted Mr. Lakanwal "passes most of his time for consecutive weeks in his blacked-out room, refusing to talk to anyone, including his spouse and children."

The individual, who was not a mental health professional, also said Mr. Lakanwal had "hyperactive periods for one or two weeks at a time where he would take off in the family car." They also described he had periods 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 via the recent Operation Allies Welcome. This was during the period after the chaotic US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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

He lived with his family in Bellingham, Washington.

"Aid group workers are attempting to assist for that family - but I think the father has psychological problems that are untreated, and he refuses to speak with anybody," a section of an earlier communication states.

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

Mr. Lakanwal had reportedly been a member of a "Zero Unit" - an local intelligence and paramilitary force that worked with a US intelligence agency.

Official Response and Legal Proceedings

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

The administration has paused all refugee claims "until we can ensure that every alien is thoroughly investigated to the fullest extent," a senior official said.

Mr. Lakanwal, who was injured in the event and is still hospitalized, faces homicide accusations.